MTSU plans tornado-siren testing Nov. 4 on main campus, Miller complex

A U.S. flag stands in the rubble of a neighborhood struck by a deadly EF5 tornado that ravaged Moore, Oklahoma, and nearby areas May 20, 2013, killing 24 people and injuring 212 others. The tornado, which stayed on the ground for 37 minutes over a 17-mile path that crossed through a heavily populated area of the town, was part of a larger weather system that produced several other tornadoes across the Great Plains over the previous two days, including five that struck portions of Central Oklahoma the day before. (Photo by RevDP/Pixabay)

MTSU plans to test its tornado sirens on campus and at the Miller Coliseum Complex Monday, Nov. 4, at 11:20 a.m.

This will be a brief, routine test of the system, and no safety actions are necessary.

If there’s inclement weather in the area at the scheduled test time, however, the test will be canceled.

MTSU notifies the campus and surrounding neighborhoods before each siren test. The MTSU Police Department began a new “first Monday” tornado-siren testing schedule in August to minimize distractions for the campus and its neighbors and to create a simpler schedule that’s easier to remember.

When a siren test date falls on a university holiday, the department will conduct the test at the planned time.

Members of the campus community can prepare for emergency weather situations anytime by checking MTSU’s list of recommended shelters at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUTornadoShelters. You also can see the full siren-testing schedule at www.mtsunews.com/tornado-siren-testing. Bookmark both sites!

Remember: When there’s a weather emergency, all students, faculty and staff automatically receive a Rave alert at their MTSU email addresses.

MTSU community members who also want text and/or voice alerts should visit www.mtsunews.com/weather and use the “click here and log in” link to make those notification changes.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)