University of Maine officials are warning Orono residents that the sirens they will hear today are only a test.

Normally, when UMaine's emergency communication system is activated, the local community is notified in several different ways. Three sirens on-campus will sound for several minutes. A text message is sent to subscribers of UMaine's text system. Information is posted on the university's homepage, and the UMaine portal. In addition, a recorded telephone message may be heard by dialing 581-INFO.

The sirens will sound at some point today, but officials warn that it's only a test of the system, and that there's nothing to be concerned about. The emergency notification service alerts people to public safety issues, including inclement weather conditions that cause classes to be cancelled.

Anyone interested in receiving those emergency text or email notifications in the future can register through the U-Maine website.

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