Departmental Tornado Procedures
When seconds count...the immediate and best response of
your department's personnel and students within your department CAN SAVE LIVES!
Many departments and units on and off campus will need to create, document, and
practice your procedure for when severe weather occurs.
Getting the word to ALL people in your department is important, and the action
taken by the people is just as important. Here are very basic actions that need
to be taken in your department when a tornado warning is issued, but these
procedures MUST be modified to best fit your department's needs, situation, and
actions - click here to download Microsoft Word
version of this document.
When a tornado warning is issued:
1. If available, announce over your building P.A., speakerphone, or bullhorn:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR THE LEXINGTON/FAYETTE COUNTY AREA,
THIS MEANS THAT A TORNADO HAS BEEN SPOTTED, OR IS IMMINENT IN THE AREA. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND ALL PERSONS SHOULD GO TO A SEVERE WEATHER SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. REPEATING...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING FOR THE LEXINGTON/FAYETTE COUNTY AREA. ALL PERSONS SHOULD GO TO A SEVERE WEATHER SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. |
2. Initiate building
notification through your pre-established "calling tree". This should include...but is not limited to...calling other
departments in your building.
3. Send runners to any occupied classrooms,
auditoriums, laboratories, and any other regularly occupied areas in the
building...repeating
the above listed message for all persons, stressing that they should go to the
closest severe weather shelter. If time permits, persons should close and lock
doors as they leave their area. Elevators should NOT be used when
proceeding to storm shelters.
4. For all other watches and
warnings....click here for the approved
UK severe weather guidance.
5.
Information sources should continue to be monitored, in order to determine when
the threat has passed, so that an "All Clear" can be established, and all
persons can return to previous activities/duties.