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January 31, 2017 - 10:00 am

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

As a reminder, the University will TEST the emergency sirens and Alert Carolina System on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, between noon and 1 p.m. We test the sirens and messaging system regularly to make sure the equipment and notification processes work as planned.

During the test, anyone outside on or near campus likely will hear the sirens. The sirens are not designed to be heard inside a building or vehicle. The sirens will sound an alert tone along with a brief pre-recorded voice message. When testing is complete, a different siren tone and voice message will signal an all clear.

The sirens sound only for a major emergency or an immediate safety or health threat such as:

  • An armed and dangerous person on or near campus;
  • A major fire or hazardous material incident;
  • A tornado warning for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area issued by the National Weather Service; or
  • A different emergency, as determined by UNC Police.

The University will also sends text messages to cell phone users who registered their numbers in the online Alert Carolina Contact Information page available through the ONYEN services website. The University will post safety-related announcements on the Alert Carolina website, alertcarolina.unc.edu, along with updates. A mobile-friendly version of the Alert Carolina website can be found at http://m.alertcarolina.unc.edu/.