Baylor to Test Outdoor Tornado Sirens, Baylor Alert Emergency Notification System at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7

***Required Test of the Baylor Alert Emergency Notification System Completed Successfully***

Outdoor Warning System (tornado sirens): [10:01 a.m. CT]

Activated successfully at 10 a.m. CT.

Baylor University Information Line: [10:01 a.m. CT]

Baylor Information Line at ext. 4411 (254-710-4411) tested successfully with audio message.

"You have reached the Baylor University information line.  Today is Friday, February 7, 2025.  Baylor University is conducting a required test of the Baylor Alert Emergency Notification system, which includes the Baylor Information Line.  This line is used to communicate important information in the event of an emergency or a disruption in Baylor’s normal operations.  This concludes this test of the Baylor University Information Line."

Official Baylor University social media channels: [10:01 a.m. CT]

University social media channels  updated successfully with Baylor Alert test message: X/Twitter: @Baylor, Facebook @bayloruniversity1845 and Instagram @bayloruniversity.

Baylor website and constituent webpages: [9:56 a.m. CT]

University’s home page (www.baylor.edu) updated successfully with Baylor Alert test message in addition to the Faculty/Staff webpage and Students webpage.

Text: [Baylor Alert, 9:45 a.m. CT]

Baylor Alert *TEST* text message delivered successfully to all contacts.

[BAYLOR ALERT] *TEST* Baylor Univ Public Safety will test emergency outdoor sirens today (Fri, Sep 6, 2024) btwn 10-11 am. More info: https://bit.ly/3XhdQAE *TEST*

Email: [Baylor Alert, 9:30 a.m. CT]

Baylor Alert *TEST* email message delivered successfully to all contacts.

[BAYLOR ALERT] **TEST** of Emergency Outdoor Warning System (Sirens) between 10-11 am

***Friday, Feb. 7, 2025: Required Test of the Baylor Alert Emergency Notification System Test Underway at 9:30 a.m. CT***

Contact: Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-710-1961
Follow us: @BaylorUMedia on X and LinkedIn

Baylor University will join City of Waco and McLennan County partners – in cooperation with the Waco/McLennan County Office of Emergency Management – to conduct a regular test of its Outdoor Warning System (tornado sirens) at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7. In addition to the siren test, Baylor University will conduct a required test of the multi-tiered Baylor Alert emergency notification system, which is used to alert the campus community of a significant emergency or threat on or near campus. The University’s testing period will be 10 to 11 a.m.

“As we near the spring storm season, Central Texas at times may experience severe weather, including tornadoes,” said George Nunez, director of emergency management at Baylor. “It is important for students, faculty, staff and visitors to be familiar with the Baylor Alert emergency notification system and emergency preparedness guidance for severe weather, particularly if the National Weather Service issues a Tornado Watch or Tornado Warning.”

On the first Friday of each month, Baylor coordinates with city and county partners for this regular joint testing of tornado sirens. When there is an actual weather-related emergency – including a tornado warning where a tornado is imminent – Baylor, the city and county will activate their outdoor sirens to alert the public to take action to stay safe. On Friday, if there is rain in the forecast or skies are cloudy, the monthly siren test will be postponed to a future date.

What to expect from tests of outdoor sirens, Baylor Alert system

On the morning of Feb. 7, the Baylor Emergency Management team will send a Baylor Alert email from baylor@email.getrave.com at 9:30 a.m. and a Baylor Alert text message at 9:45 a.m. to members of the Baylor community alerting them of the outdoor tornado siren testing. The text message will come from one of the following short codes: 226787, 67283, 78015 and 77295. 

At 10 a.m., the outdoor tornado siren testing will begin with a test voice announcement, followed by the outdoor siren test that will last about 60 seconds. During this testing period, Baylor also will test all communications on the additional functions of the Baylor Alert emergency notification system.

Baylor Alert uses multiple systems to communicate in an emergency, including: 

• Outdoor Notification System (Main Waco Campus Only)
• Baylor Alert email notification to Baylor email account (from baylor@email.getrave.com)
• Baylor Alert text message to cellphone
• Audio message to a cellphone or other telephone
• Notices on Baylor’s main website (www.baylor.edu)
• Official Baylor social media channels: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram
• The Baylor Information Line audio recording at 254-710-4411

If there is an actual emergency on campus, including weather-related warnings, Baylor's Department of Public Safety and its emergency management team use the Baylor Alert emergency notification system to share important information and instructions for students, faculty, staff and visitors for all kinds of hazards, from severe weather to other dangerous situations. When additional information is available, BUDPS will share further instructions, such as “seek secure shelter immediately” or shelter-in-place.

How to sign up for Baylor Alert

Baylor students may enter/update their Baylor Alert contact information by logging on to BearWeb. Employees can enter/update their emergency contact information through the Ignite system. Parents, visitors, contractors and other individuals can opt-in to receive Baylor Alert text messages by using one of following options:

• Short-term visitors (1-3 days) can text Baylor1845 to 226787. *Note, subscriptions automatically expire after 3 days.
• Long-term visitors (weeks, months, semester, etc.) can text Baylor76798 to 226787. *Note, subscriptions do not automatically expire. Users need to opt-out to stop receiving notifications.

Safety Procedures 

Indoors 

• Seek shelter immediately on a ground floor, in an interior room. 
• Severe Weather Assembly Areas in each Baylor Waco campus building are identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout each building and available via an online map. 
• Do not use elevators. 
• Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. 
• Avoid wide-span roof areas such as auditorium, gymnasium, dining hall and large hallways. 

Residence Halls 

• Residence Hall Directors and available staff will gather all residents to the Severe Weather Assembly Areas (identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout the facility). 
• Residents should bring blankets for protection from debris. 
• Remain in the Severe Weather Assembly Areas until the tornado passes, and an All Clear is issued via Baylor Alert. 

Outdoors 

• Seek indoor shelter, if possible. 
• Parked motor vehicles are unsafe. 
• If indoor shelter is not available and there is not time for escape, lie flat in a ditch or low spot. 
• If you are on a flat ground and are caught in the path of a tornado, always move at right angles to its path. 

Individuals with mobility/impairments or physical disabilities: 

Supervisory personnel and course instructors are responsible for identifying and escorting individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities located in their offices/facilities or classrooms to safety in the event of a tornado warning. 

The elevators may be used to transport individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities and their escorts to a safer location. Visually impaired and hearing-impaired individuals may be escorted down the stairs but may require assistance in moving in crowded staircases and in finding a safer location. 

In the event of a power failure, individuals who are unable to use the stairs and their escorts should move to an interior location without windows and call the Baylor University Police Department at 254-710-2222 who will notify the appropriate emergency personnel with the location. 

Feedback/Additional Resources 

Feedback about the Outdoor Warning System testing can be directed to the Baylor Office of Emergency Management at Emergency_Management@baylor.edu or 254-710-2836 (BUEM).

Frequently Asked Questions about City of Waco Emergency Management Warning Sirens are available on the McLennan County website. Additional information about City of Waco Emergency Management is available on the  City of Waco website. 

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

The Baylor University Department of Public Safety serves as an umbrella department for the Baylor University Police Department, emergency management, global safety and research security, physical and technical security and parking and transportation. BUDPS is set on providing students, faculty and alumni with excellent security and safety through instant notification systems, extensive surveillance cameras and highly trained staff. 

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY 

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.