Coastal Carolina University has a new mass notification system (MNS) that will broadcast voice messages via a central control unit throughout the main campus in emergency situations.

CCU has completed installing the first phase of the Eaton Cooper WAVES® Outdoor Notification equipment and the SAFEPATH® Indoor Notification units that can alert students, faculty, staff and visitors of an emergency incident or a possible severe weather event approaching campus.

"Coastal Carolina University considers the safety of its students, employees and visitors to be paramount," said Director of Public Safety David Roper. "The addition of this integrated solution system builds a multilayered approach that enhances the safety of the CCU community."

The high-powered speakers broadcast intelligible voice messages, tones and sirens from four locations on the main campus. The speaker poles are located adjacent to Baxley Hall, on Prince Lawn, in front of Hicks Dining Hall and at the Springs-Brooks Baseball Stadium.  

Ten locations on the main campus have indoor notification units with multiuse capabilities, including live voice messaging and emergency notification from the central control unit.

The MNS speaker system that can be heard all over campus is the latest addition to the University's emergency notification system and was tested during the holiday break in early January prior to the students' return.

"The mass notification system is designed to alert and inform people in an emergency and will be used for emergency notification purposes only," said Carissa Medeiros, director of CCU's emergency management. "Other facets of our emergency notification system include text message and email alerts, website alerts, social media postings and television screen notifications through the University's closed-circuit system."