One of Four Emergency Sirens Fails in Test of New Technology

The University tested the four emergency sirens, which were installed over Spring Break, at about 11 a.m. yesterday. Three of the sirens — located on the roofs of Mary Donlon Hall, the Hans Bethe House and Bartels Hall — functioned properly, while the one located above the Veterinary Medical Center did not, according to Simeon Moss ’73, director of Cornell Press Relations.
The contractors are currently investigating the problem with the Vet College siren.
“It is an ongoing process and we are continuing testing to make sure they perform the way we want them to,” Moss said.
The sirens sound a three-minute alert tone and can also broadcast a pre-recorded or live message.
The $250,000 project is part of the University’s ongoing commitment to improve safety and security on campus, specifically the emergency notification system. The sirens are battery-powered and Cornell’s Planning, Design and Construction Department worked with Mid-State Communications and the Merit Electric Company to install them.