After four years of living in Oxford the weekly tornado sirens have become as normal as my blaring alarm for my 8am class, but for visitors or freshmen it can be bit alarming. There is no need to panic when your student calls home saying tornado sirens are going off, the City of Oxford tests the tornado sirens every Wednesday at 11:55am. According to Lafayette County Emergency Management website the alarms are only tested weather permitting thus if it is raining, cloudy, or potential severe weather the sirens are not tested.
The warning sirens only last for one minute, whereas if the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning the sirens last for three minutes. For any severe weather the University emails and texts through Rebel Alert to notify students about any potential weather threats in the area. By the end of a freshman’s first semester the weekly test sirens will be background noise as they walk to class.
Stay up to date with all potential severe weather on campus check the following resources:
Sign up for RebelAlert Messages