Outdoor warning system to be tested June 22-23

Rice University Police Department will conduct a test of its new outdoor warning system June 22 and 23 between 10 and 11 a.m.

Speakers have been installed in five strategic locations to enable RUPD to broadcast messages that can be heard outdoors across campus during an emergency.

The sound test will include sirens, bell tones and voice messages. No action or response is needed from students, staff and faculty during the test.

RUPD will have personnel stationed around campus to monitor how well the warning sounds and messages can be heard.

In the event of a real emergency, such as an active shooter on campus, RUPD may use this system to communicate instructions and other important information to people outside. This mass notification system is not intended to be heard by people who are inside buildings.

“We’re really happy to have this additional means of communication to help keep the Rice community safe,” said Chief of Police Johnny Whitehead. “The outdoor speakers enable us to direct people who are outside and who may not be able to receive the emergency alerts that we send by text and email. We hope we never have to use this system for an actual emergency, but we need to be prepared to do so, and that’s the purpose of our testing this week.”

If RUPD is able to complete all of the testing June 22, no testing will be conducted June 23.