Improved Campus Warning Systems

[500AT]

Tonight I was watching FOX News's coverage of a terrible tragedy that happened at Virginia Tech, and they said that a better way of warning students and faculty is needed rather than relying on an e-mail system. In reality, the use of an e-mail notification system is OK, but is way too slow to reach everyone at the same time, especially when you have gunman on the loose killing everyone in sight.

Ironically, Virginia Tech doesn't have an outdoor warning siren system, that would alert everyone of an emergency like what happened on Monday. Moreover, I wonder how many students have or had NOAA Weather Radio receivers? Here would be another great way to get the warning out with a LEW (Law Enforcement Warning) alert. However, knowing most college students, they probably don't have a NWR in their dorm rooms.

What other methods could be used to alert the students of a large campus of a pending emergency?

[scooterbugs25]

[quote="500AT"]

Ironically, Virginia Tech doesn't have an outdoor warning siren system, that would alert everyone of an emergency like what happened on Monday.

quote]

You are wrong, Virginia tech does have campus outdoor alert system They have a system of ATI's thru out campus. That is on a separate system then Montgomery County system of 121's..They had them put in around may of 2006. They were also used when this event took place. If you do a Google search about "Virginia tech sirens" and click on the news tab you can read more about it.
One of the ministers from our church is also a professor there he made mention tonight, how the "sirens" made the announcement to lock down the buildings. He was next door when the shootings happened.

[500AT]

This is what the person they were interviewing implied. Apparently, he was not aware of the ATI system being in place. Nonetheless, I am glad to see that they do have such an advanced system.

[scooterbugs25]

Here is a link too the VT web site about there warning system.

http://www.ehss.vt.edu/Programs/OSD/Eme ... system.htm