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Lycoming College will test its new campus emergency alert siren Monday, Jan. 28, at approximately 4:15 p.m.
In the days leading up to the test, the college will also check its campus-wide “Lyco Message Alert System,” which includes sending out notifications via e-mail to all students, faculty and staff on their campus e-mail account, by text message to students, faculty and staff who have signed up for the message alert system and a message on the campus switchboard. Information may also be posted on the front page of the college’s Web site.
According to Dan Miller, Lycoming’s dean of student affairs, the implementation of the emergency alert siren has been a cooperative effort between officials at the college, city of Williamsport and Lycoming County. The system is designed so officials from the college, city and county have the ability to activate the system. The college would activate the siren in a situation that presents a school-wide emergency on campus, while the city or county may use it to alert the campus community and surrounding neighborhoods of a situation in the city such as a hazardous material accident or a weather emergency. The siren alert system provides immediate notification for the campus community and improves the city system with additional alert coverage for city residents.
Miller says the college has also been working closely with city officials regarding administrative and tactical response issues and staff training related to responding to campus-wide emergencies.
“Although Lycoming College and colleges across the country have had emergency plans in place, the tragedy at Virginia Tech has been an impetus to review those plans and look for ways to utilize technology to provide immediate notification of an incident and provide initial communication of what may be going on,” said Miller. “The introduction of this new alert system accomplishes both of these objectives and signifies the college’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the college community.”
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