PHILADELPHIA — The University of Pennsylvania’s Division of Public Safety is testing the UPennAlert Emergency Notification system with a shelter-in-place drill on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 2:55 p.m.

Public Safety will test the system and its message-delivery methods, including those via personal electronic devices, the DPS Web site and the Penn Siren Outdoor System.

A shelter-in-place drill is designed to provide refuge for the occupants of buildings in the event of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or natural disasters.   

“The effectiveness of the UPennAlert system is dependent on our students, faculty and staff registering and providing accurate, up-to-date personal contact information,” Maureen S. Rush, vice president for public safety, said.  “As an added layer of protection, Penn’s Siren Outdoor System, or Penn SOS, will notify people, regardless of their affiliation with the University, who may be walking on campus during this test and in the event of a true emergency.”

Penn SOS consists of 13 speakers that can transmit a siren and emergency messages to the outdoor campus environment. 

This annual test satisfies the requirements of the Federal Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act as well as the Philadelphia Fire Code.

The UPennAlert System serves 52,000 people in the Penn community.

Penn students, faculty and staff can register with UPennAlert at www.publicsafety.upenn.edu.