Emergency alert system test finds flaws

Five emergency alert systems were tested March 2 as a part of the National Incident Management System higher education requirements, said Capt. Richard Atkins, OSU Police Department.

“We were pleased with the test and appreciate everyone’s involvement,” said OSU’s Emergency Operations Coordinator Ron Hill in an e-mail. “The test provided the input we needed, and we will be evaluating the data.”

One of the systems tested was the Code Red text and voice message system, Hill said. Preliminary results suggest the voice message part of the system was the more successful of the two because 93.8 percent of the numbers dialed were reached.

“We know there were issues in people receiving text messages in a timely manner — delivery of text messages is a cell provider issue,” Hill said. “Because of the delay in receiving text messages, we would encourage everyone to register for voice messages on Code Red, which go through almost immediately.”

Another system tested was the voice-evacuation systems, which were tested in nine buildings on campus.

The systems in three of those buildings, South Murray Hall, Old Central, and Edmon Low Library, didn’t work, said Floyd Cobb, OSU fire marshal. But the systems, which are connected to the fire panels, are being looked at to find out why they didn’t work and what needs to be done to fix them.

The cost for upgrading the fire panel systems for a voice evacuation system depends on the size of the building and could range from $50,000 to $250,000, Cobb said.

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TESTED SYSTEMS

Code Red text and voice mail alerts

Campus e-mail

Outdoor warning speakers, a siren test with a voice-over alert

Fire alarm public address speakers inside the Classroom Building, Colvin Center, Edmon Low Library, Whitehurst, Willard, Architecture Building, Old Central, Murray Hall and the Oklahoma Disease Diagnostic Center

Campus cable television override