LRH TORNADO PREPAREDNESS

TORNADO & SEVERE WEATHER RESPONSIBILITIES

A two or three minute series of short or intermittent blasts is the Take Cover signal. Residents should be directed to the nearest shelter areas, which are the first floor hallways and bathrooms in the residence hall. Residents should make sure their room doors are shut and locked and then proceed to the first floor hallway on their side of the building (ie 3 West residents go to 1 West hallway). Residents should kneel up against the wall in a first floor wing hallway or a first floor residents? bathroom and cover their heads for protection from flying glass or debris. First floor residents are asked to unlock their bathrooms to accommodate residents in need of a shelter area. The lobby hallway near the first floor trash room, the café area, the Great Room, and the large conference room are to be avoided because of the large glass windows.

Bathrooms are designated shelter areas because they are accessible, windowless, and have interior walls. Lower level rooms without windows (ie the mailroom, public bathroom, or the small  conference room) can also be utilized as shelters by residents who may be there at the time of the warning.

Residents should be cautioned to stay away from areas with glass windows because of the great danger of injury caused by flying glass broken by high winds.

Residents should be directed to remain in the first floor halls and baths until the warning is canceled. After a warning is canceled, an all clear is broadcast over a local radio or television station (Channel 20 or 2 -WICS.)

The siren is not sounded to indicate all clear.

NOTE:

A tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted in the area and one should immediately seek shelter.

A tornado watch means that the atmospheric conditions necessary for the formation of a tornado exist, thus one should be prepared to seek shelter. Whenever possible, Residence Hall Staff will be notified of these conditions.