McMaster testing campus alert systems in Hamilton on Sept. 1

The term has yet to start, but McMaster University in Hamilton is already having a test.

The university is giving the Mac community a heads-up that it is testing the campus Siren Alert and Alertus Notification systems on Thursday morning (Sept. 1). Around 10:20 a.m., campus community members with the McMaster Safety App installed on their smartphone will receive advanced notice of the testing.

Shortly thereafter, outdoor and indoor sirens will be tested. For indoor sirens, community members will hear a recorded “this is a test” message, followed by a full-volume siren “wail.” The indoor siren test will take place in the following buildings:

• McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC)
• Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery (MDCL)
• David Braley Athletic Centre (DBAC)
• Ivor Wynne Centre and David Braley Athletic Centre (IWC)

The McMaster Safety App has several features that are intended to support campus community members, including Mac’s some 30,000 students, with feeling at ease. It includes:

• Safety alerts, including campus closures and emergency instructions.
• A list of contact information for emergency and non-emergency security concerns.
• Multiple ways to report a concern directly to the McMaster security department.
• A Friend Walk option that allows someone to watch your travel route home, which complements the existing Student Walk Home Attendant Team.
• A map that shows where crimes have happened on and close to campus
• Support resources and emergency plans.