Emergency Siren/Warning Systems

Snow College Public Safety wants you to know about YOUR Early Warning Siren System.  In the world today - with life threatening hazards traveling up and down our interstates, rail roads, and road ways, and unexpected weather conditions - having a warning system for the public will help Law Enforcement give you valuable information at critical times.
The Six County Siren System has been selected to help the public identify and react to possible life threatening situations. Snow College is a part of the Six County Siren System.  This system consists of a three-tone siren.  This system is designed to notify those who are outside for immediate response.  Those inside buildings should be able to hear the sirens but, if not, you will be notified by the College’s emergency alert/warning system.  You have to sign up for those warning.  See Alert Sign-Up, click on “sign up” and follow the instructions.

Snow College provides all employees and students a means to be notified of emergencies. This notification will come to your cellular phone or computer by way of a call, e-mail or text message. Each employee or student may choose to be involved by signing up for this emergency alert notification.  To sign up for the Emergency Alert/Warning System known as “Send Word Now”, go to this Snow College Website: www.snow.edu/alert, and click on “sign up / remove” and follow the instructions.  You will remain on this list as long as you are a registered student or employee of Snow College unless you remove your phone number by going to the same website and clicking on delete.

The FIRE tone siren is a Long High-Low Wail.  This is the same tone presently used in some communities to call their fire personal to a fire.  In Ephraim, the fire department does NOT use the fire siren for the public to hear.  This tone will not be used in Ephraim City but in other parts of Sanpete and Sevier County, it may be used.

Play Fire Tone

The Shelter-In-Place (SIP) tone siren is a Fast High-Low Wail.  This tone might be confused with the fire siren if you aren’t aware of the faster cycling of the wail.  In the event you hear the SIP tone, go inside immediately and close and lock all doors and windows.  Turn off all ventilation.  Tune a radio to KMTI (650 am) for instructions on what to do.

Play SIP

There are several reasons you may receive a request to Shelter-in-Place:

1) You may be notified to SIP if there is a weather related condition coming toward your community, such as a tornado or severe hail storm, etc.

 2) You may also be asked to SIP in the event of a criminal in your area, one that is armed and dangerous and a threat to the community.

3) You may be asked to SIP for a hazardous materials toxic plume.  If this is the case, you will need to have a “SIP kit” which can be used immediately to seal one small room (safe room) in your home, apartment or college building for no more than 2 hrs.

When choosing a “safe room” to shelter from a hazmat plume, you will want a room on the first or second floor with as few windows and doors as possible, (not a basement, since toxic fumes may settle there) like a small interior bathroom. In most cases shelter-in-place will be much less than 2 hours with the usual air flow in our area.

For your SIP kit you will need five or six mil plastic sheeting to cover each window, door and air vent of your “safe room.”  Cut the plastic ahead of time, about 4 inches wider than the framing.  Label each piece for quick application.  You will also need duct tape to seal the plastic sheeting.  Don’t leave folds or creases in the plastic as you put it up.  Be sure to tape around all electrical outlets, and any plumbing pipes entering the room.  Also, be sure to check inside cupboards for holes as well.  Use fresh duct tape for a good seal.  You will also want to have an Emergency radio, weather band radio, telephone or cell phone, some food and water and - if you have children or pets - anything that will help the time go by: books, games, a coloring book and crayons, etc. Don’t forget the diapers and formula.

If you have large dogs and/or many pets, you may want to shelter them in another room.  You may not have time to seal the room as well as your own safe room.  Remember, the air exchange rate is greater in a less insulated home, trailer and car.  DO NOT try to SIP in a car!

*If you run a business and must SIP for a hazmat event, you may have patrons that will need to SIP with you.  Be aware of this, since you may need more than one safe room.  Plan accordingly! 

*If you are at home or in your apartment, you may have company and must SIP with everyone for a hazmat plume.  Be aware of this, you may need more than one safe room. Plan accordingly!

You will be notified by emergency responders, Public radio announcement (KMTI 650 AM) or the college’s emergency alert system (Send Word Now) when it is OK to leave the safe room.  At that time, you will want to have one person leave and open up all windows and doors, and turn on ventilation to remove the possibly contaminated air inside your home, replenishing with fresh air from outside.

Play Evac

The Evacuation siren tone is a Long High Solid Tone. This tone will start low and slowly build to a high tone, where it will stay solid. You will need to turn on your radio to KMTI (650 AM) or wait for the College’s Emergency Alert System (Send Word Now) for information relating to the evacuation process i.e. direction to exit your location.  This tone will only be used if the community can safely evacuate from the hazard rather than Shelter-in-Place, or if it is more dangerous to stay.  Such a threat might include a wildfire or a terrorist bomb attack, or flood.  You will most likely be told the safest locations to evacuate to and the road to get there.  You will need to make sure you follow those directions; those trying to take a “short cut” may send you through the danger zone and put yourself at risk.

Shots Fired on Campus Training
Snow College has made available to all students and employees (using a computer on campus) a chance to view and receive training relating to what they should do if you are faced with as active shooter incident on campus. This information/training video is available at www.snow.edu/safety and click on “Shots Fired” which is close to the bottom of the page.

If you have questions or concerns relating to any of the College’s early warning systems, call Snow College Public Safety at 435-283-7170 and ask for a Siren System and Shelter in Place, Send Word Now training. 

 

For more information about Snow College Public Safety, or to contact Campus Police, call 435-283-7170