Posted: May 21, 2015 | Written by: Tyler Reese
Riverside City College, Norco College and Moreno Valley College will initiate a full test of their mass notification and emergency alert systems on May 22 at 2 p.m. The systems use a multi-platform approach to mass notification to help alert as many students and staff as possible in the event of an emergency or threat to the college or surrounding community.
According to the mass e-mail sent out by Michael Simmons, director of Risk Management, the systems include electronic, telephonic and audible messaging capabilities. A test alert will be sent out via a variety of communication methods such as e-mail, text messaging, landline and cellphone calls and social media. Digital media signs on campus will broadcast a message to anyone within visual sight of the monitors.
In addition, all three colleges are equipped with an external audible alert system that will broadcast a “TEST ONLY” message according to Simmons’ e-mail, across the college campus and into the surrounding community. It is likely that all residents who live within a 1-2 mile radius of the college will hear all or part of the test message.
The audible test should take no longer than a minute from start to end and to reduce any inconvenience caused by the audible sounds, the test will not include an “all clear” message.
For those who are adjacent to, or on the campuses at RCC or NC a fifteen second chime like tone will be heard, followed by a male voice announcing, “Testing. This is a test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test.” The message will be repeated three times then ending.
Persons on campus or within audible range of the MVC campus will hear a short audible tone followed by a female voice with the message, “RCCD Alert! Test! This is a Test of the Riverside Community College District Emergency Alert System. No action required. Conditions are normal. This is ONLY a test.” This message will be heard only once.
According to Simmons, the test will be limited to the test message script only and no other alerts will be broadcasted.
Simmons says as the district expands its scope of emergency systems its goal is to include community partners such as residents, businesses and local governments in an opt-in program in which they can register to receive alerts on smart phones, computers, landlines and social media.
Those interested in further information about the emergency broadcast test may contact College Administration, or the District Risk Management Department at 951-222-8128.
