June 26, 2012
Alertus emergency notification boxes being installed in Umberger, Waters
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Several additional Alertus emergency notification boxes are being installed on campus.
New units are currently being installed in Umberger Hall, with Waters Hall to follow.
Alertus are yellow emergency notification boxes. The units can sound a siren, flash lights and display a 123-character text message on the box's screen. The units are located in hallways of buildings and will be in classrooms with 50 or more people.
"Like tornado sirens outside, we needed some way of alerting people inside if there is an emergency outside of the building or an emergency inside of the building," said Steve Broccolo, K-State's emergency management coordinator.
Emergency management is working with telecommunications to install Alertus units in every building across campus. Telecommunications is installing the units free of charge.
"There shouldn't be a lot of noise involved with the instillation process," Brocollo said. "We just ask for people to be understanding while we do this."
More than 500 Alertus units are projected to be installed in campus buildings in upcoming years, Broccolo said.
Alertus systems are currently located in Ackert, Ahern, Bluemont, Call, Calvin, Cardwell, Center for Child Development, Chalmers, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Eisenhower, the engineering complex, Gen. Richard B. Myers Hall, Justin, Kedzie, Seaton and Seaton Court, Throckmorton and Willard. Units are also installed by front desks in housing and dining resident halls and in Jardine's main office.