Longwood University to participate in statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 16

Longwood University will test its public address/siren warning system and text messaging system as part of a statewide tornado drill at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16. All state agencies are being encouraged to participate in this statewide exercise and practice their tornado emergency plans as if a tornado warning had been issued.

The Longwood emergency alert system will transmit a siren tone followed by a voice message stating that a tornado drill is being performed. The alert siren and voice message will be transmitted through three (3) strategically placed speaker arrays across campus and at Longwood's off-campus apartment complexes (Lancer Park and Longwood Village) and the athletic fields at Johnston Drive.

Officials anticipate that the siren tones will be heard within a half-mile of the main campus and within a quarter-mile of the off-campus residence locations. The public address/siren warning system is designed to be heard by people who are outdoors and not within buildings on or near campus.

The tests are designed to ensure that the emergency alert system works and to raise awareness on campus and within the Farmville community about the system's existence.  The emergency alert system will be tested simultaneously with a university text-messaging alert.   

This is primarily a test of the Longwood University emergency alert and communication system and no action is required on the part of faculty, staff, or students.

The statewide drill is a coordinated annual effort of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service to remind all Virginians of the importance of tornado preparedness.  Employees and students are encouraged to visit www.vaemergency.com to learn more about tornado preparedness.

For more information, please contact the Longwood University Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 434.395.2940.