What to do if …
Duke will conduct a test of its emergency systems on Wednesday, Oct. 17
As part of its emergency preparedness plans, Duke will test the DukeALERT mass notification system on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
Beginning at 10 a.m., outdoor warning sirens will sound and the emergency DukeALERT website will be activated. Shortly afterward, faculty, all students and staff will receive a test email. In addition, a text message will be sent to the cell phones of all students and those staff who have registered to receive the service. Duke's information line (919) 684-INFO will also provide a recorded message.
When the sirens wail for a test or emergency situation, Duke community members and visitors who are outside will hear a tone as part of the alert, which may be repeated during real emergencies. The siren tone is considered an "all hazards" alert to get the community's attention and will be activated for any type of emergency that requires people to take shelter immediately.
Since this is a functional test of the system, Duke community members do not need to seek shelter or evacuate. Instead, they should take time to understand how they will be notified in the event of a life-threatening emergency like a tornado sighting or active shooter on campus.
“The best time to learn what to do in the event of an emergency is before one takes place,” said Kyle Cavanuagh, vice president for administration and Duke University’s emergency coordinator. “That’s why we conduct these tests during the fall, spring and summer to encourage people to familiarize themselves with the steps to take during an emergency.”
Specific steps are outlined for different emergency scenarios from tornados to active shooters on the DukeALERT website.
When the sirens go off in a real campus emergency, community members should consider the acronym, "S.O.S.": Seek shelter immediately, Obtain information from DukeALERT emails and text messages and emergency.duke.edu and Stay tuned for further instructions.
Download and post this flier to help promote and raise awareness about the test.
Community members are encouraged to download the free mobile safety app, LiveSafe, through the Apple App Store or Google Play. LiveSafe allows users to send real-time tips through the touch of a button to Duke Police, which monitors messages 24/7. And with the “SafeWalk” feature on the app, users can invite friends to “virtually escort” them to a destination on a real-time map.