UPDATE: 6 a.m. Nov. 7: MTSU will not conduct its monthly tornado siren test on campus and at the Miller Coliseum Complex on Monday, Nov. 7, at 11:20 a.m. as planned.

The test has been canceled to prevent confusion during the Rutherford County Schools Education Day event scheduled with an MTSU men’s basketball game around that time inside Murphy Center, organizers said.

The test, usually conducted by the University Police Department, will return to its regular schedule in December, weather permitting.

Each tornado siren test is a brief opportunity to ensure MTSU’s outdoor warning system is working as needed. No safety actions are necessary, and no campus activities are affected.

If there’s hazardous weather near or approaching campus at the scheduled test time, however, the sirens won’t be tested.

MTSU notifies its campus and surrounding neighborhoods before each siren test. The university uses a “first Monday” monthly tornado-siren testing schedule to minimize distractions for the campus and its neighbors.

Under the plan, even if a siren test date falls on a university holiday, the department will conduct the scheduled test.

Members of the campus community can prepare for emergency weather by checking MTSU’s list of recommended shelters at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUTornadoShelters. The complete siren-testing schedule also is available at http://mtsunews.com/tornado-siren-testing.

Remember: When there’s a weather emergency, all students, faculty and staff automatically receive a Rave Mobile Safety alert at their MTSU email addresses. The university’s tornado sirens are intended to alert those who may be outdoors during dangerous weather.

MTSU community members who also want to be notified via text ]and/or voice message from the university’s Rave alert system can use the “click here and log in” link at http://mtsunews.com/weather to begin those alerts.

For status updates on MTSU anytime, visit https://mtsu.edu/coronavirus.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

Damaged vehicles and downed power lines are strewn along Nashville Pike in Gallatin, Tenn., in front of a Nissan dealership in the wake of a deadly tornado outbreak in this file image. Nine tornadoes touched down in Middle Tennessee on April 7, 2006, killing 10 people, including seven in Gallatin, and injuring hundreds more. Around 700 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed in Sumner County alone, including several on the Volunteer State Community College campus, located across the street from this car dealership. Middle Tennessee State University has canceled a planned Nov. 7 test of its tornado siren system on campus and at the Miller Coliseum complex at 11:20 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7, because of a large special event on campus. (Image by Ernest Prim/Adobe Stock Photos)