UNC tests siren alert system hours after another US mass shooting
On Tuesday, less than 24 hours after a shooting at Michigan State University, students and staff on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had their day disrupted by emergency sirens. Tuesday's test was one of three planned each year - a test of the system that would alert Tar Heels to a threat on campus.
Posted — Updated"Every time there is an incident that occurs, locally or nationally, particularly on another campus, we use that as an opportunity to use our plan to see what improvements we need to make," Darrell Jeter, UNC director of emergency management and planning, told WRAL News. "We want them to know the tone before it happens so they can get acquainted with those emergency notifications."
During the test, sirens are sounded from six locations:
- Hinton James Residence Hall off Manning Drive
- Gary R. Tomkins Chilled Water Operations Center behind the Dogwood Parking Deck
- Winston Residence Hall at the corner of Raleigh Street and South Road
- near Hill Hall behind the University Methodist Church
- University buildings and support facilities near the Giles Horney Building off Martin Luther King Boulevard
- near the William and Ida Friday Continuing Education Center, about three miles east of the central campus
They are not designed to be audible from inside buildings or closed vehicles. UNC police also send out a text message to students who are registered with the Alert Carolina app.
The siren alert tone is followed by a brief pre-recorded voice message. And any siren would be followed by an "all-clear" message once the threat or test is over.
The sirens can be used for a variety of reasons – including if there is an armed or dangerous person near campus or during a fire, hazardous material incident or tornado warning.
Students in Chapel Hill said they are attuned to their surroundings and know what to do in case of emergency.
"It made me feel good, knowing they have systems in place," said graduate student Marina Klinova.
Sophomore Hannah Biggers said teachers and peers talk about how to respond to an attack.
"I am watching my surroundings," she said. "It's always in the back of my mind. ... It's obviously scary to think about. It could be anyone."
Both women said they avoid walking alone at night.
"We are a public institution. We are an open campus," Jeter said, noting that the university makes clear the risks and rewards of that open campus during orientation.
"Every freshman or transfer student new to UNC is required to go through a Carolina Ready training session," he said.
They learn how to navigate buildings and the areas around campus and are trained in how to respond to an active shooter situation.
"As an open campus, how do we balance safety while making sure campus can be accessed by students, staff and visitors," Jeter said. He pointed out that public and open are not absolutes. Different facilities on campus have different security measures. Residence halls are locked, for instance.
3 killed, 5 injured in mass shooting on MSU campus; 43-year-old gunman dead
Police cleared and secured seven buildings on campus, and classes and activities were suspended at least through Wednesday. for the next 48 hours, at least.
The gunman was identified as Anthony Dwayne McRae, 43, who was not affiliated with MSU and who killed himself as police were closing in on him.
In 2022, there were more than 600 mass shootings in the U.S. in which at least four people were killed or wounded, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
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