TechAlert! And Tornado Siren Test
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: March 5, 2013
Texas Tech did a check of their tornado siren and Tech Alert emergency communication system in preparation for severe weather season.
University officials set off the sirens around 10:50 this morning. They also sent texts, calls, and emails.
"We have made some improvements on our outdoor sirens and I think it was evident, you could hear them on campus very clearly today," said Emergency Management Coordinator Ronald Phillips.
Phillips says they had staff monitoring the sirens around campus, and they'll take information collected today to check effectiveness.
"The Tech alert with the emails and phone calls we'll get data back that shows how many people received the calls and things like that," said Phillips.
While Phillips considers the drill a success, some students say there's room for improvement.
"I didn't hear it inside the buildings, I heard it as soon as I came out," said student Brooke Weidman.
She says that while she got the Tech Alert, other students did not.
Clifton Virgil was one of the students who didn't get the alert. He was surprised he didn't get the alert because he usually does.
"Some students don't even set up their Tech email account so they really don't get the alerts from tech all the time so it could be on the students part as well," said Virgil.
"You get the texts and the emails, but if your phone isn't set up for that you don't know what's going on," said Weidman.
Phillips says all students are entered into the emergency database when they enroll at Tech, but its up to them to update that info. If you didn't receive a Tech Alert today, you can update your info at ttu.edu/emergencyalert.
University officials set off the sirens around 10:50 this morning. They also sent texts, calls, and emails.
"We have made some improvements on our outdoor sirens and I think it was evident, you could hear them on campus very clearly today," said Emergency Management Coordinator Ronald Phillips.
Phillips says they had staff monitoring the sirens around campus, and they'll take information collected today to check effectiveness.
"The Tech alert with the emails and phone calls we'll get data back that shows how many people received the calls and things like that," said Phillips.
While Phillips considers the drill a success, some students say there's room for improvement.
"I didn't hear it inside the buildings, I heard it as soon as I came out," said student Brooke Weidman.
She says that while she got the Tech Alert, other students did not.
Clifton Virgil was one of the students who didn't get the alert. He was surprised he didn't get the alert because he usually does.
"Some students don't even set up their Tech email account so they really don't get the alerts from tech all the time so it could be on the students part as well," said Virgil.
"You get the texts and the emails, but if your phone isn't set up for that you don't know what's going on," said Weidman.
Phillips says all students are entered into the emergency database when they enroll at Tech, but its up to them to update that info. If you didn't receive a Tech Alert today, you can update your info at ttu.edu/emergencyalert.
