The Campus Warning Siren System was tested yesterday and experienced some technical difficulties.
The siren blare sounded, but instead of playing one message, it played two simultaneously. One indicated that the siren was a test and the second was the message told people to go inside and seek additional information. The second message would normally be played in the event of a real emergency.
Directly following the glitch, a voice on the loud speaker reaffirmed that the operation was a test.
Virginia Tech Police were unable to give any information regarding the cause of the glitch yesterday morning.
The emergency siren system was originally installed in the spring of 2006. The system cost the university over $130,000, said Mark Owczarski from university relations.
During testing in 2006, Tech staff realized that there were places on campus where the warning from the original four sirens could not be heard. To correct this, two additional sirens were added: one in the upper quad and one near Robeson Hall.
Those two new sirens were tested on April 16, when the warning system was used after multiple shootings on campus.
Owzarski said that the siren's blare is loud enough to overcome ambient noise, like traffic.
In the event of an actual emergency, blast e-mails, news broadcasting, web postings and text message alerts will be used in conjunction with the siren system, Owzarski said.
The system is for those who do not have cell phones and are outside on campus, so the alarm may be the only way they can be notified. The sirens will not penetrate the interior of buildings.
Varying methods of communication in an emergency situation "all work in harmony because people receive information in various ways," Owzarski said.