A Tornado Warning 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 is the responsibility of all faculty, administrators, and staff to become familiar with the following procedures, and to disseminate and instruct all students of the procedures required and of the suggested shelter areas. Individuals should should seek shelter in building interiors preferably on lower levels, and use areas such as hallways, or rooms without windows and with doors that close. Avoid windows or areas with large amounts of glass, and large open areas such as atriums, gymnasiums, lobbies .

SEVERE WEATHER PROCEDURES:

DAY HOURS

1. Off-campus sites are responsible to monitor weather conditions, and in severe weather take shelter as outlined in other sections of these procedures.
2. Facilities will monitor all weather conditions and report watches or warnings of any expected severe conditions to the Executive Director of Facilities or his/her designee. In the event of a warning, the President’s Office will be notified.
3. In the event that weather conditions deteriorate, the Executive Director of Facilities or his/her designee, will determine the need for a "take shelter" warning. The President's Office will be notified. Staff will be notified via Epop and Kirkwood Alert. The President's Office will notify Cabinet members. Administrative offices will ensure that all personnel in their areas have been notified. It is critical that every room on every floor of every building be notified of threatening weather conditions.
4. When a thunderstorm warning is issued by the National Weather Service, Facilities 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

1. 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.
2. On main campus, the Facilities administrator will monitor weather conditions.
3. In the event the Facilities administrator is not available, Campus Security and on-duty custodial staff shall be responsible for monitoring weather conditions and performing the tasks below.
4. Upon notification of a weather watch, the Facilities administrator will immediately contact Campus Security and the Softball Complex to inform them of the potential for severe weather.
5. If the path and severity of the storm warrants, the custodians will be informed through the Facilities administrator, of the situation and be advised to be alert for further information and instructions.
6. The Facilities adminstrator will make the determination for a "take shelter" warning. The warning will be relayed through the two way radio, and thru Epop and Kirkwood Alert.
7. Warnings shall be prioritized to: a) Child Care b) Auto Collison c) Auto Technology d) Softball Complex e) 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 seek shelter in building interiors, away from windows, and avoid large open areas.
8. Faculty who teach in the evening will be aware of the emergency information and are responsibile to know where their students should take emergency shelter. They are also responsibile to be aware of potentially severe weather. This is especially important of those involved in outdoor programs.

 

OFF-CAMPUS LOCATIONS - Shelter Areas

BELLE PLAINE:
The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Go to the lower level, west restroom or the west storage room. 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

JONES REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTER (JREC):                                                        The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent.  Shelter areas are first floor interior rooms away from windows. 

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.

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. Get under a table and be sure all doors are closed to the room.

 

MAIN-CAMPUS LOCATIONS - 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