WWU to test building alert system Friday, June 21

Western Washington University plans to test its emergency building enunciation system at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, June 21.

On June 21, a test voice message via the fire alarm system will be repeated several times in many campus buildings as well as some outside speakers at the university tennis courts, the south campus oval at the Communications Facility and at the Old Main lawn.

Amber fire alarm strobes also will flash in some of the main corridors of academic buildings and some bathrooms.

Building enunciation is part of the university’s emergency notification system known as Western Alert, which is a group of ways to reach students, faculty and staff with important safety information.

Other Western Alert elements – which will not be tested on June 21 – include the Big Ole steam whistle for outdoor alerts, text messages, emails, social media and university homepage alert messages.

Through a U.S. Department of Education grant, Western has created a new video to help students, faculty and staff be more ready for an emergency. Western's Emergency Management Committee recommends you view this eight-minute video.