A full-volume test of the Seahawk Warning Siren System and the UNCW Alert emergency communication tools scheduled for Monday, July 14, has been cancelled. The system and tools functioned properly last week during emergency communications surrounding Hurricane Arthur, and further testing is not necessary at this time.

The Seahawk Warning Siren System is an outdoor emergency warning tool. The communication tools that are tested in conjunction with the siren include email, desktop, phone and text notifications as well as emergency beacons at the Center for Marine Science.

The next full-volume test is scheduled for September 8.

UNCW Campus-Community Awareness: Hurricane Season

The 2014 Hurricane Season officially begins June 1 and will last through November 30. As North Carolina’s coastal university, UNCW has well-prepared hurricane procedures in place and has been recognized by the National Weather Service as a Storm-Ready University.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts storm activity will be “near-normal or below normal” for the 2014 hurricane season. The outlook calls for a 50 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 40 percent chance of a near-normal season, and only a 10 percent chance of an above-normal season.  

“Predictions are useful reminders of the need to prepare for hurricane season. It only takes one storm to create impacts on university operations and our community,” said Eric Griffin, emergency management coordinator with the UNCW Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Department.

Griffin and his EH&S colleagues collaborate with the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service to closely monitor Atlantic Ocean storms and their potential impact on campus. Modern storm tracking services offer the university useful information for planning and preparation several days in advance.

In the event of potential impact, the Office of University Relations and EH&S work together to keep the campus community informed of delays, closings and other weather-related information.

Communication Tools

• UNCW home page
• UNCW Alert web page
• UNCW Facebook
• UNCW Twitter
• Seahawk Siren Warning System
• Campus entrance marquee
• Emergency Information Hotline: 910-962-3991
• CHWK Channel (on campus) messages
• Local media outlets
• UNCW Alert mass emails, phone calls and/or text messages for faculty, staff and students.
• To receive UNCW Alert messages, log onto mySeaport. Scroll down left side navigation and click Register to Receive UNCW Emergency Texts. Provide/update personal information. Click Submit.

 

Weather-Related Resources

• NOAA National Hurricane Center
• NOAA Tropical Cyclones Preparedness Guide (PDF)
• UNCW Emergency Management
• UNCW Adverse Weather Policy
• UNCW Hurricane Website