If you hear what sounds like an air-raid siren today, don't worry - you're probably not in danger.
Campus Emergency Services will test its emergency siren at 11:02 a.m. today as part of UNM's emergency-response plan.
Emergency Operations Manager Byron Piatt said students should seek shelter in the nearest building when the siren sounds.
It will last for one minute and then be followed by an "all clear" sound, indicating students may go about their business. Students can visit Unm.edu to hear the alerts. Piatt said UNM is one of many universities using emergency sirens to improve campus safety.
"It is to warn students of all prospective hazards, not any one issue," he said. "Many other college campuses are having similar sirens installed to warn of emergencies such as severe weather conditions or dangers on campus."
The sirens were installed this summer, but this is the first time they will be tested.
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The installation was one of President David Schmidly's initiatives.
One siren is atop the Humanities Building on Main Campus, and the other is at University Stadium, Piatt said. This was an engineering decision meant to allow maximum sound coverage of the University area, he said.
Piatt said that in the future, the siren will be used with other means of campus emergency safety, such as TextMe UNM, the University's emergency text messaging and e-mail system that was put in place last year.
When the siren sounds, students who are signed up for TextMe UNM will receive a message that informs them of the emergency, Piatt said. An e-mail will also be sent.
Flyers were displayed throughout campus last week with information regarding the siren test. However, many students are still unaware of the upcoming drill.
Senior Doug Bruch said last week that he hadn't heard about it and would have done the opposite of what was required.
"I didn't know there was going to be a test run," he said. "I might have gone outside to see what the noise or emergency was. I think it could cause confusion."
Other students said they were glad the sirens have been installed.
Junior Samantha Eastham said it makes sense to have an outdoor alarm for emergencies.
"I didn't know about the siren, but I think if I heard it, I would stay inside," she said. "I think it is useful and will make campus a safer place."
Piatt said students will likely get used to the sirens and know how to respond and that there will be more drills in the future.
To hear the alerts, visit Unm.edu
