Civil Defense Warning Signal
The warning system, consisting of sirens in the City of Manhattan and the University Power Plant whistle will be tested on the first Monday of each month at 10:20 a.m. The test consists of a steady sound for one minute, followed by one minute of silence, followed by one minute of intermittent operation. If a holiday falls on the first Monday, the test will be made on the following Monday.
In the case of an actual tornado warning, the sirens and whistle will be sounded for a steady three-minute blast. The authorization for this signal is received from the Riley County Emergency Operations Center by a direct telephone connection, and the whistle will not sound without that authorization.
When a tornado warning is sounded, some or all of the following steps should be followed:
- Get indoors and stay indoors during the storm.
- In schools and public buildings go to the designated shelter areas. Interior hallways on the lowest floor are usually the best.
- Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls. Protect your head.
The all clear signal for the main campus is a series of short blasts from the University whistle for one minute. The all clear signal for Jardine Terrace will be given by the Campus Security Patrol over the vehicular public address system and by public radio and television. A portable battery-operated radio is recommended for information from the local radio station.
Revised: June 23, 1998
