About 9 a.m., people living and traveling near public school campuses might hear a tone and message coming through campus loudspeakers. The speakers will typically reach out clearly up to half a mile and the tone often can be heard for several miles, according to a news release from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
The Emergency Operations Center in Niceville and the Okaloosa School District have the ability to activate the new public safety notification system. It can be used as a vital, potentially life-saving early warning system for school, weather and other emergencies.
Wednesday's alert will be strictly for testing purposes. It is being conducted by Okaloosa County and the Okaloosa County School District.