The University will conduct a campus-wide test of its emergency notification system beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, to ensure that members of the University community can receive information during a campus crisis or emergency.
The test will include both the Princeton Telephone and E-mail Notification System (PTENS) and the blue light tower outdoor notification system. Testing of the individual towers will be done by broadcasting a tone followed by a voice message: "Attention please. This is a test of the Princeton University emergency notification system. This is only a test."
Members of the campus community should not take any action if they hear the test messages.
Although the message will advise that it is a test, individuals should give advance notice of the test to anyone who may receive the message instead of the intended recipient, such as family members or roommates, as well as visitors to the campus.
As an additional precaution, it is important for individuals who receive official emergency alerts to share information with others nearby, in case they have not yet received the communication. Individuals also should limit the use of telephones during an emergency to prevent overloading the telecommunications system.
In the event of an actual emergency, the University would continue to relay critical information using the most appropriate options from a range of notification resources, such as the University's homepage, email, social media, an automated message line and door-to-door notifications. The manner of notification would depend on the nature of the emergency.
All members of the University community should visit the University's new emergency management website to learn more about what steps to take to prepare for and respond to various types of emergencies. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to register for emergency preparedness training sessions through the Employee Learning Center.
To ensure inclusion in the test, all faculty, staff and students should update their personal contact information through the appropriate self-service websites no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6. Options for adding phone and email contact information are provided through TigerHub, where undergraduate and graduate students enter their information, and also through the Office of Human Resources self-service website for University employees.
For more information about the notification system, visit the PTENS Frequently Asked Questions page. People with further questions about the PTENS system should send email to PTENS@princeton.edu. Princeton Police Department has been notified about the testing.
Any member of the campus community who has questions or concerns should contact the Department of Public Safety at 609-258-1000.