Washington University will test its emergency sirens at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, as part of a Missouri statewide tornado drill.
The test was originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, but was rescheduled due to Tuesday’s potential for severe weather. The March 10 test will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather that day or some other emergency is occurring at that time.
The drill is part of Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week March 7-11.
The university also will provide information about the test on the emergency website, emergency.wustl.edu, and the emergency hotline, (314) 935-9000.
The Tuesday siren test is in addition to St. Louis City’s and St. Louis County’s monthly siren test Monday, March 7, and the university’s WUSTLAlerts test Wednesday, March 9.
St. Louis City’s and St. Louis County’s monthly siren test occurs at 11 a.m. on the first Monday of each month.
WUSTL will test its emergency notification system, WUSTLAlerts, at approximately 12:05 p.m. Wednesday, March 9. For the test, WUSTLAlerts will send e-mails to @wustl.edu addresses and voice-based messages to cell phones. E-mails will come from WUSTLAlerts@wustl.edu, and voice-based messages will come from (314) 935-9000. For more information, visit news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21943.aspx.
WUSTL community members are strongly encouraged to update their contact information via HRMS and WebSTAC/SIS. The university uses the information in HRMS and WebSTAC/SIS to contact individuals when necessary in an emergency.
During Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week, WUSTL students, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit emergency.wustl.edu and click on “severe weather” to learn more about preparing for severe weather and safe ways to react during and after a weather emergency.
During a tornado warning, the WUSTL community should follow these instructions:
- Evacuate to the basement, an inside hallway or an interior bathroom on the lowest level possible with a flashlight and radio.
- Avoid places with wide-span roofs.
- Once evacuated, get under heavy furniture (if available).
- Use arms to protect your head and neck.
“Having knowledge of what to do or where to go in case of severe weather is crucial for the safety of the Washington University community in a weather emergency,” says Mark Bagby, emergency management coordinator. “More information on how to stay safe during a tornado or other emergencies can be found on the university’s emergency website.”
No communications will be sent via the emergency notification system on Tuesday — which sends text and voice messages to registered cell phones, landline phones and e-mails to @wustl.edu addresses — for this test.
WUSTL’s warning sirens are located on Brookings Hall, Seigle Hall and Nemerov House.
For more information about the sirens or the drill, e-mail Bagby at bagbym@wustl.edu.