UMass Amherst Installs Campus Outdoor Warning Network, Providing Additional Layer of Emergency Notification
The University of Massachusetts Amherst has begun installing an outdoor public emergency warning system, consisting of sirens in eight locations that will broadcast warnings using both tone and voice at the largest public university campus in New England. The new system should be operational this fall.
“This investment will provide an additional layer of emergency communication for faculty, staff, students and visitors,” said Brian Olsen, emergency management and business continuity manager within the office of Environmental Health and Safety. “This will help us reach people who are outside and can’t be contacted by our other notification methods, which include text messages, e-mail and the Web. This is an outstanding communications tool for the campus to have at the ready.”
The system is designed for use in situations where there is an existing or imminent threat such as weather emergencies, including tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings, hazardous material spills, and active threat situations such as a shooter. The action most likely to be broadcast is to take shelter indoors in the nearest building and to seek additional information, Olsen said. The alert system will be audible to people outside and isn’t designed to be heard inside buildings. UMass Amherst, with more than 26,000 students, has the largest enrollment for a public university in New England, and covers 1,463 acres.
The contract for the system has been awarded to Acoustic Technology Inc. of East Boston. The system costs $225,000.
Seven of the eight siren locations will be on the roofs of campus buildings: Brown residence hall, the Textbook Annex, Hampshire Dining Commons, Franklin Dining Commons, Grayson residence hall, the Student Union and Herter Hall. The eighth will be installed on a pole near McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The locations can be used together, in various zone combinations, or as single units, Olsen said. The system uses secure communication modulation and has backup battery power that allows for standby operation for about eight days.
When activated, the system creates an alert tone, followed by a brief prerecorded message. It is also capable of broadcasting public address announcements. The system features eight High Powered Speaker Stations (HPSS) with 3,200 Watts of continuous audio output power. A control station running ATI Systems software will be used to activate, test and monitor the outdoor alerting units. ATI designs, manufactures and installs emergency warning and notification systems for the college, community, industrial and military markets.