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Tornado

General Guidelines - Stay away from windows and exterior doors during all severe weather.

Notification of an approaching dangerous storm may be made by one or more of the following:

• Emergency warning sirens.
• National Weather Service Emergency Alert System via the broadcast media.
• Via phone system, emergency notification system, email, Website, or other communications device.

Tornado Watch - A Tornado Watch is an indication of where and when the probabilities are highest that severe weather or a tornado could occur.

Tornado Warning - A Tornado Warning indicates a tornado has been sighted and you should immediately take shelter.

Weather Siren - This siren has a continuous steady tone lasting three minutes or longer. There is no all clear, and just because it stops does not mean that danger has passed. The siren is used primarily for tornado warnings, but has been used for severe storms capable of producing severe damage or loss of life. In either event, taking shelter is the best bet.

In the Event of a Tornado Warning:

Students, Faculty and Staff

• Once a tornado warning has been received, close all doors and windows.
• Take shelter in a designated shelter area or an interior room or hallway on the lowest level of the building, away from doors and windows, and sit as low to the ground as possible.
• Protect your head with your arms.
• Organize assistance to those individuals with disabilities.
• Do not use the elevator.
• Do not open windows or go outside.
• Follow directions of Campus Safety and other emergency responders.
• Wait until an All Clear message has been received from Campus Safety.

Labs, Studios and Shop Settings

• Once a tornado warning has been received, quickly inform your class of the situation and follow the instructions for Students, Faculty and Staff.
• Turn off all electronic equipment in the classroom and terminate all work in progress if safe to do so.
• Ensure that all chemical bottles and containers are capped or sealed.
• No equipment should be used during a tornado warning.
• Extinguish all open flames.
• Wait until an All Clear message has been received from Campus Safety.

Equestrian Complex

• Return horses in the aisle to their stalls and leave all horses loose in the stall with the door closed and latched.
• Riders must immediately dismount and return horses to the stalls. If in immediate danger (tornado in sight) seek shelter immediately and leave horses in the arenas.
• Wait until the all clear message has been received and follow faculty or staff directions to recover horses and return them to their proper location.