Public Safety looks to install emergency sirens
Within the next three months, GCSU plans to install two safety alert sirens – one at the intersection of Clark and Hancock streets and another on West Campus.
The two sirens, estimated to cost $70,000, will operate with the Connect-ED system already in place at GCSU. During any severe weather conditions or local emergencies, the sirens will be activated with the option of a verbal broadcast for specific situations such as the alleged gunman who was reportedly on campus last month.
“These sirens are necessary for our campus because Baldwin County does not have a tornado warning system to alert the public. With that said, we were not only able to provide the university community with this service but to also expand the service to alert during times potential danger, such as an armed assailant,” of said Coordinator of Emergency Preparedness and Occupational Safety Justin Gaines.
The omni-directional speakers will allow the broadcast to carry an approximate 5-mile radius, benefiting not only those on campus but also residents in the vicinity of campus.
“The siren system will not take the place of Connect-ED but will layer our emergency notification system to ensure that everyone on campus is alerted to impending danger,” Gaines said.
Though the safety and security of the campus is a major concern for students, not everyone is pleased with the impending broadcast system.
“They should try to get the community in on Connect-ED and look for other cheaper ideas before they go and blow $70,000 on sirens that won’t reach everyone,” said senior history major Matt Buckley.
Connect-ED currently has approximately 60 percent of the student, faculty and staff population at GCSU registered for e-mail, text messages and voice-message alerts. The broadcast system is designed to be faster than Connect-ED and serve those who are not registered for the program.
“While it may not make a difference for the students who have Connect-ED, locals may benefit from the service,” said Student Government Association Sen. Robert Aycock. “I think they should examine the other methods before spending that amount of money on sirens.”
The siren package is currently in the bidding phase and will be installed once a company is awarded the bid. Staff will then be trained on and test the system.
“The sirens have the capability of being tested silently as to not desensitize the public to false alarms,” Gaines said.
GCSU was recently ranked the eighth safest university in the nation by the Web site The Daily Beast. In a statement last week Assistant Vice President of Public Safety Dave Groseclose said: “The safety of our students and the campus is our number one goal.”
Posted by Lissa Speer
on Feb 5 2010. Filed under News.
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