Severe Weather

State-Wide Annual Tornado Exercise 2007

This annual severe weather exercise will be held at approximately 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, 2007. In the event of inclement weather on that date the exercise will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2007.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) urges all University facilities to participate in this exercise by implementing existing evacuation plans to the fullest extent practically possible. In accordance with existing policy these plans should include at least the following steps:

• Move to interior corridors away from doors and windows preferably in a basement or lower floors;
• Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums, or other areas having a wide, free-span roof; and
• If outdoors, lie flat in the nearest depression such as a ditch or ravine. If there is time, move away from the path of the tornado at a right angle.

All personnel in all areas should perform or demonstrate knowledge of their facility emergency plans during all drill scenarios. In this case "perform" means: actual movement to designated safe areas and seeking a physical position to protect yourself. "Demonstrate knowledge" means: verbalizing the procedures outlined in your facility emergency plans. Specifically what you would do if this was an actual severe weather event.

The outdoor warning sirens will be sounded as only one part of the local warning network. The sirens are used only as an attention getting device with no way to determine whether the sirens are sounding because of a chemical hazard, weather emergency, flood, or whatever. Specific information regarding the actual nature of the emergency will be broadcast by the local media. KFRU 1400 AM Radio serves as the local emergency broadcast station with a direct link from the City/County Emergency Operation Center (EOC). No all clear signal will be sounded; sirens are used only for warning.

Please notify all occupants of your building of this upcoming exercise by whatever means you deem appropriate and most efficient. Also, please observe the response in as many areas as possible of your building and note your observations on the attached checklist.

If you have designated area or group monitors they should also assist with exercise planning and response documentation. Following this exercise and no later than Friday, March 23, 2007 please forward your findings, concerns, comments, etc., to David G. Dorth, Safety Representative. If using the EHS checklist, remember to do so by "save and reattach" or "Forward" methods, instead of "Reply", which loses attached documents.

Thank you in advance for your participation and dedication to the safety of your building occupants.