A TORNADO OR THUNDERSTORM WARNING is issued by the National Weather Service, and means a tornado or severe thunderstorm has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Persons close to the storm should take shelter immediately, and remain there until the danger is past. Others should be prepared to take cover if threatening conditions are sighted.
It shall be the responsibility of all faculty, administrators and supervisors to become familiar with the following procedures and to disseminate and instruct all students and staff of the procedures required and of their suggested shelter area. Individuals should be instructed to seek shelter in building interiors, preferably lower levels such as hallways, or in rooms without windows and with doors that close. Avoid windows and large open areas such as gymnasiums, lobbies and theaters.
SEVERE WEATHER PROCEDURES:
DAY HOURS
A. Off-campus sites are responsible to monitor weather conditions, and in severe weather take shelter as outlined in other sections of these procedures.
B. The Facilities office will monitor all weather conditions and report watches or warnings of any expected severe conditions to the Executive Director of Facilities. In the event of a watch or warning, Facilities will immediately notify the the President’s Office.
C. In the event that weather conditions deteriorate, the Executive Director of Facilities shall determine the need for a "take shelter" warning, and Facilities will notify the President's Office. Staff will be notified via Epop and the Kirkwood Alert systems. The President's Office will notify Cabinet members. Administrative offices shall ensure that all personnel in their areas have been notified. It is important that every room on every floor of every building be notified of threatening weather conditions.
D. When a thunderstorm warning is issued by the National Weather Service, the Facilities office will notify Child Care and Campus Security. Campus Security will notify any department(s) in wooden frame structures if situation is considered dangerous for occupants to remain.
EVENING & WEEKEND HOURS
- During evening and weekend hours, each off-campus site is independently responsible to monitor weather conditions and in severe weather take shelter as outlined in other sections of these procedures.
- On-campus, the Evening Facilities Manager shall monitor weather conditions.
- In the event the Evening Facilities Manager is not available, Campus Security and on-duty custodial staff shall be responsible for monitoring weather conditions and performing the tasks below.
- Upon notification of a weather watch, the Evening Facilities Manager shall immediately contact the Kirkwood Softball Complex, and Campus Security to inform them of the potential for severe weather.
- If the path and severity of the storm warrants, the custodians will be informed through the Evening Facilities Manager of the situation and be advised to be alert for further information and instructions.
- The Evening Facilities Manager shall make the determination for a "take shelter" warning. This warning will be relayed, thru the emergency notification systems Epop and Kirkwood Alert to all responsible for notifying all occupied facilities.
- Warnings shall be prioritized to Bldg. 4, Child Care, Auto Mechanics, Auto Collision, Softball Complex, and all buildings in the farm area. The warning shall be communicated by all available means. Students, staff and faculty in these buildings should move into designated shelter areas during both a tornado and severe thunderstorm warning. If time or weather makes it unsafe to move people who are in these buildings, they should be instructed to 1) seek shelter in building interiors, preferable hallways, 2) avoid windows, and large open areas.
- Faculty who teach in the evening should be made aware of the emergency information are asked to take responsibility to know where their students should take emergency shelter. They should also take responsibility to be aware of potentially severe weather. This is especially important of those involved in outdoor programs.
OFF-CAMPUS LOCATIONS
BELLE PLAINE
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Go to the lower level, west restroom or the west storage room. Everyone should try to get under a table and be sure all doors are closed to the room.
IOWA CITY LEARNING CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Take shelter in the restrooms or inner rooms of the building.
IOWA CITY CREDIT CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Immediately go to the center core of the building away from windows, and in room with doors that close.
IOWA CITY ANNEX
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Immediately go to:
1) Restrooms (men and women's)
2) If necessary, hall may be used by closing classroom doors
KIRKWOOD TRAINING AND OUTREACH SERVICES - KTOS
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Shelter areas are located in restrooms, the cafeteria, and rooms 126 and 127.
LINCOLN CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Evacuate immediately to the basement area. The center will monitor the weather radio during inclement weather.
MONTICELLO CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Immediately evacuate to the basement area. Sit on the west side of the basement under a sturdy structure with your head covered.
MARION CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Proceed to the main hallway away from the glass.
RESOURCE CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Evacuate rooms immediately to the lower level of the building using the stairs at either the west or east end of the building.
TIPTON CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Immediately proceed to the basement and remain there until the danger has passed.
TIPTON CEO
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Those in the South end of building should move to the hallway until danger has passed. Those in the north end of the building should move to their break room and remain there until danger has passed.
VINTON CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Take shelter in either the men or women's restrooms.
WASHINGTON CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Evacuate to the lobby area of the South Building away from windows, or seek shelter in the basement restrooms of the north building. Warnings will be communicated within the building by verbal communication.
WILLIAMSBURG CENTER
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Evacuate rooms immediately to the bathrooms, conference room, work area or vending area. Everyone should try to get under a table and be sure all doors are closed to the room.
Suggested Shelter Areas
ANIMAL HEALTH/DIAMOND V: Central location away from glass
ART & THEATRE ANNEX: Move to Cedar Hall, weather permitting
ATHLETIC (SPORTS) COMPLEX: Move to Jones Hall
AUTO COLLISION: Move to the Community Training & Response Center (CTRC) weather permitting
AUTO TECHNOLOGY: Move to the Community Training & Response Center (CTRC) weather permitting
BEEF FACILITY: Move to Washington Hall or Animal Health, weather permitting
BENTON HALL: Move to lower level
CEDAR HALL: Move to First Floor
CENTRAL RECEIVING: Move to Animal Health, weather permitting
CHILD CARE: Move to the gymnasium
COMMUNITY TRAINING & RESPONSE CENTER (CTRC): Inner office area
EQUINE FACILITY: Move to Washington Hall or Animal Health, weather permitting
FACILITIES: Move to Jones Hall, weather permitting
FARM AREA: Move to Washington Hall, weather permitting
HERITAGE AREA AGENCY ON AGING: Move to Washington Hall, weather permitting
HORTICULTURE/FLORICULTURE: Move to center classroom area away from glass
IOWA HALL: Move to lower level away from windows
JOHNSON HALL: Move to locker rooms
JONES HALL: Move to inner office area
KCCE: Move to restrooms
KIRKWOOD HALL: Move to first floor
LINN HALL: Move to lower levels away from windows
MANSFIELD CENTER: Move to entrance to Ballantyne Auditorium
NIELSEN HALL: Move to the first floor, the back hallway
PRAIREWOOD: Move to Cedar Hall, weather permitting
RAPTOR CENTER: Move to Washington Hall
REC CENTER: Move to the restrooms or weight room area
SWINE FACILITY: Move to Animal Health, central location away from glass
TRUCK DRIVING: Move to Kirkwood Hall, weather permitting
WASHINGTON HALL: Move to inner hallways
