Tuesday's exercise is strictly a drill and no evacuations will be ordered.
Between 10:45 and 11 a.m., persons on or near the campus may hear a two-tone, high-low electronic alert sound, a public address announcement regarding the test, and finally a long steady tone that will serve as an “all-clear” signal. New white strobe lights will be activated, flashing from the rooftop locations where new speakers are installed.
Special red “Test Today” signs will be posted at key locations around campus and bold changes will appear on the HSU homepage during the 15-minute drill.
University authorities encourage the campus community and the public to use three additional sources of information: via the Web at www.humboldt.edu/emergency, by telephone recording at 707/826-INFO (4636) and by tuning in KHSU 90.5 FM. Students, staff, and faculty who have registered for emergency text messaging will receive an emergency text "TEST" message on their cell phones.
In addition to the campus-wide test at 10:45, additional sounds and test announcements may be heard briefly throughout the day, as technicians test and calibrate the new speakers across campus.
At the test’s conclusion, comments on the system’s operation and effectiveness will be collected at a dedicated web address, response@humboldt.edu .
The new network of speakers and strobe lights is installed at the Behavioral and Social Sciences Building, Harry Griffith Hall, Jolly Giant Commons, Redwood Bowl, the Theatre Arts building and University Center. The loudspeakers, matched acoustically to HSU’s topography and building layout, were designed and installed by professional audio engineers who previously devised systems for Disneyland and U.S. Navy installations at Pearl Harbor.
Humboldt State’s version covers 100 percent of the campus with alert tones—a distinct warbling sound—and 60 percent of it with intelligible voice warnings.