Troy reacts to RPI's use of its emergency alert system Tuesday morning. Our Solomon Syed joined us with more on why the system is getting mixed reviews.

TROY, N.Y. -- RPI used their emergency alert system for the first time since it was put into place following the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007. Obviously it was designed to keep the campus safe, but some students and troy residents said it had the opposite effect.

"It was a loud, annoying whining sound," said RPI student Dillon Mysliwiec.

That's how some students describe the emergency alert that rang out from RPI Tuesday morning, putting the school on lockdown, and putting some students over the edge.

"I'm pretty sure that people were worried about the fact that they had no idea what was going on," said Mysliwiec.

"They really got the fear factor going. I got the text, I hear the sirens going off. I'm on the third floor of my building and I'm thinking, "Is the gunman right outside my window?" said RPI student Eric Day.

Students claimed they had a hard time hearing the lockdown announcement on the campus-wide speaker system, causing some confusion. And fears even spilled down the hill into Troy.

"While the sirens are going off for RPI, my cat was with me and every time they would go off he would wake up and look around like who's talking to me," said Troy resident and RPI student Karen Ellison.

The sirens went off every 20 minutes for about an hour-and-a-half and area residents told us they could hear them as far as Watervliet and Menands.

Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian made it clear the city had nothing to do with the alert, saying on his Twitter page, "No shots were fired. No confirmed sighting on campus. City did not declare campus emergency." His reaction likely came in response to phone calls from dozens of concerned citizens.

"Cause where troy is positioned, it went beyond, the sound went beyond the campus and people were understandably wanting to know what the scoop was," said Troy police Sgt. Terry Buchanan.

RPI issued a statement saying "Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our students," and some residents believe that should be the city's stance too, regardless of any inconvenience.

"I think [Mayor Tutunjian] needs to get some ear plugs," said Menands resident Sonny Sullivan.

Troy resident Linda Passaretti added, "The little fear that I felt as a resident of the City of Troy, I'd much rather feel that little bit of anticipation or fear and know that potentially a life was saved."

The Mayor's office did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night, but Mayor Tutunjian's twitter page says he intends to talk to the school about the frequency and volume of the alert system. Meanwhile, with the robbery suspect still on the loose, RPI is maintaining an increased security presence, especially near the dorms.