The University Police Department has added to one of its vehicles a new emergency siren that will alert the university community should a major incident occur that would require immediate attention and response by students, faculty, staff and others on campus.

Called a “Hi-Lo” siren, it has a very distinct sound that changes tone from high to low, which makes it stand out from the sirens of other emergency response vehicles. In addition, it sounds a message, “Emergency evacuation of this area is required,” in English and Spanish.

It would only be used in the event of a large-scale incident, such as a fire of the magnitude of the Palisades or Eaton fires in January, where the immediate response of the public is critical, and in addition to the university’s existing alert systems, such as the RAVE notification texts, emails and voicemails.

“The safety of our campus community is our highest priority. The addition of the ‘Hi-Lo’ emergency siren enhances our ability to quickly and clearly alert students, faculty, staff and visitors during a major incident," said the University Police Chief John Guttierez. “Its distinctive sound and bilingual voice message ensure that everyone, regardless of background, understands when immediate evacuation is necessary.”