Tornado Warning Policy

UNL will join Lincoln/Lancaster County Emergency Management in testing all tornado-warning systems on the 1st Wednesday of each month at approximately 10:15 am to assure the systems are working and to remind the campus community to be at all times aware of shelters and exit routes.

The test will end within 5 minutes. Tests will not be conducted when there is a threat of severe weather.

The UNL Severe Weather Awareness FAQ's can be found in this word document [link].

IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO WARNING:

1. Lancaster County Emergency Management will activate emergency sirens upon confirmation of a tornado.  All University personnel are directed to seek shelter upon activation of the sirens. The sirens will remain activated until the threat of a tornado is over.
2. Where available, the University may provide supplemental notification of LCEM tornado warnings through one of the following methods:
   • Amplified voice announcements over the public address system.
   • Multicast to radio user groups
   • A pager held by the Building Maintenance Reporter.
   • Other approved devices

SAFETY PROCEDURES

INDOORS

1. Move quickly to the tornado shelters listed on posters in university buildings.
2. Do not use elevators.
3. Stay away from windows.
4. Remain in the tornado shelter until the sirens have stopped.
5. If a tornado strikes, help avoid telephone overloads. Do not use telephones (including cell phones) except for emergency.

OUTDOORS

1. Seek indoor shelter if possible.
2. Parked motor vehicles are unsafe. Seek indoor shelter.
3. If an indoor shelter is not available and there is not time for escape, lie flat in a ditch or low spot.
4. If you are on flat ground and are caught in the path of a tornado, always move at right angles to its path.

Individuals with Mobility Impairments or Physical Disabilities

Prior planning and practice of evacuation routes to tornado shelters listed on posters in university buildings is important particularly for individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities.

Supervisory personnel and course instructors are responsible for identifying and escorting individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities located in their offices/facilities or classrooms to safety in a tornado shelter in the event of a tornado warning.

The elevators may be used to transport individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities and their escorts to tornado shelters. Visually impaired and hearing-impaired individuals may be escorted down the stairs to tornado shelters but may require assistance in moving in crowded staircases and in finding the tornado shelter.

In the event of a power failure, individuals who are unable to use the stairs and their escorts should move to an interior location without windows and call the University operator at (402) 472-7211 who will notify the appropriate emergency personnel with the location.

UNL NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS

Amplified Voice System-- The following buildings are connected to the University's internal warning system activated by IS-Communications that uses a public address system to carry an amplified voice message:

14 & Avery Parking Garage	Facilities Maintenance Shops – 942 N 22nd	Love Memorial	Schorr
17th R Parking Garage  (UNL PD)	Facilities Management (1901 Y)	McCollum-Law College	Scott
420 University Terrace	Fedde	Military & Naval Science	Schramm
900 N 21 (Textron)	Ferguson	Modular Lab	Seaton
*1320 Q (Copy Works Bldg)	Hamilton	Morrill	Selleck #4000-6000
Abel	Hardin Hall - North Wing	Morrison	Selleck #7000, 8000 & 9000 (dining)
Alexander	Harper	Nebraska Hall	Sheldon Art Gallery
Andersen	Harper/Schramm/Smith Food Service	Nebraska Union (City Campus)	Smith
Animal Science	Hawks Championship Center	Neihardt	Teachers College
Architecture	Housing-1115 N 16	*NET	Temple
Avery	Husker Courtyards (733 N. 17)	Woods	Transportation Services (1931 N 14)
Barkley Center	Husker Hall	North Stadium	Varner
Beadle Center	Husker Village North	Othmer	Veterinary Diagnostic
Behlen/Brace	Husker Village South	Pound	Watson (1309 N 17)
Burnett	Kauffman	Q Place Gallery	West Stadium
Business Services (1700 Y)	Library Depository	Richards	Whittier-North wing
Cather	Lied Center	Ross Van Brunt	Wick
Dental College	Love Library South	Sandoz	Woods
*Devaney Sports Center

*Not Facilities Management System

Tone-Alert Receiver Systems--The University buildings that do not have the internal warning systems or cannot hear the outdoor warning sirens activated by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Department of Emergency Management, will be issued both National Weather Service and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Department of Emergency Management tone-alert receivers. These receivers are activated by radio frequency signals from the respective organizations, and the pertinent weather information is broadcast.

Television and radio announcements-- When a watch has been issued pay close attention to these broadcast signals and anticipate the possibility of severe weather.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form. Be alert to weather conditions and announcements.

Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted or radar indicates rotation in the clouds. TAKE SHELTER!

If you need additional posters or have any questions, contact Colleen Huls, IS-Communications, by phone at 472-2131, or via email. Report a non-functioning alarm to Facilities Management at 2-1550.

Updated 4/15/2008