KU testing emergency public address system

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas will broadcast a test of its emergency public address system at 11:30 a.m. today, March 20.

The public address system is part of the comprehensive emergency notification system at KU. During the test, a three-second alert tone will sound, followed by the test message. Building occupants should continue with normal activities during the tests.

Speakers for the public address system have been installed in and about 81 buildings, reaching 98 percent of KU’s academic areas. The buildings comprise the highest concentration of students, faculty and staff.

The public address system allows emergency dispatchers in the 911 center to provide real-time voice messages to an individual building, a group of buildings or to all equipped buildings.

Other facets of the university’s multi-tiered emergency notification strategy include:

• Text message alerts: More than 20,000 students, faculty and staff are signed up to receive emergency text messages. Those who have not yet signed up are encouraged to do so at alert.ku.edu.
• E-mail alerts: The university’s emergency broadcast e-mail system can reach about 33,000 KU e-mail accounts.
• Web page alerts: The university will use alert.ku.edu as a centralized location for information updates.
• The university has established protocols to use local media to help inform the public in the event of an ongoing crisis.

The university also maintains the 864-SNOW hot line that is activated if bad weather forces the delay or cancellation of classes or the closure of campus.