The Vanderbilt University Police Department will conduct a test of the university’s Outdoor Severe Weather Warning System – the Vanderbilt tornado sirens – at noon this Saturday, March 1. The university will test its sirens immediately following a test of the Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County sirens.
The Vanderbilt test will consist of a voice announcement, followed by the tornado sirens, and conclude with a final voice announcement. The test is expected to last approximately 20 minutes. In the event of inclement weather, the test will be postponed until April.
It is important to note that during severe weather, Vanderbilt’s tornado sirens will sound if a tornado is detected within 15 minutes of reaching either the Vanderbilt main campus or Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks. Vanderbilt contracts with a commercial weather monitoring company to warn the university when severe weather is approaching either campus.
During severe weather, Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County also may sound its sirens; however, those sirens are not specific to Vanderbilt and are activated when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for anywhere in the Davidson County area.
Contact: Johnny Vanderpool, (615) 343-4804
johnny.vanderpool@vanderbilt.edu