RICHMOND, Ky (LEX 18) If you’re visiting Eastern Kentucky University’s campus, you might notice something new hanging up in the campus’ most popular buildings called an Alertus Beacon. EKU Public Safety officials say that it is the new alert system on campus.
EKU’s Public Safety Officials said that the alert system adds an eighth layer to their safety measures on campus, alerting visitors who might not be signed up for their safety alerts that are already in place.
The Alertus Beacons will be used for all kinds of potentially dangerous situations, like thunderstorms.
"We were watching our security surveillance cameras, and I could see the alerts going off, I couldn’t hear them, but I could see them and I could see people reacting to it, walking over and seeing it," said Emergency Management Director Gary Folckemer.
When the Alertus Beacon goes off, it will make noise, flash lights, and will call people’s attention to it. Then they can walk over to it and read the alert.
The university said that the alerts are helpful, but they hope to not have to use them. The systems on EKU’s campus are tested on the third Wednesday every month.
