UNC School of Public Health - Tornado and severe weather safety

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Faculty & Staff Resources

Tornado and severe weather safety

SAFETY TIPS

Register your cell phone with Alert Carolina.
Know the safe locations within our campus buildings.
Know your department's emergency coordinator.

Tornado or severe weather WATCH: Conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.

When a watch is in effect, be aware and ready for a possible tornado or severe weather warning (or several warnings throughout the day).
Be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions, listen for warning sirens, and stay tuned to media channels that will have the most up-to-date weather information.
Know the location of safe areas in your building, more than one route to your location, and the name of your department's emergency coordinator.

Tornado or severe weather WARNING: A tornado has been sighted or dangerous severe weather is present or approaching.

When a warning is in effect, seek shelter in interior spaces on the lowest floor of your building, away from windows and doors.

In our campus buildings, the safest shelter areas are (see maps below):

Basement of Rosenau Hall
First floor of McGavran-Greenberg hallways or inside classrooms 1301, 1304 and 1305
Ground floor of Michael Hooker Research Center inside storage room 0005 or inside the ground floor restrooms.

Pass along to others any weather updates you receive.
Stay put until an all-clear is given.
Lab occupants should close and seal all chemicals, and place all hazardous materials in primary containment.
Lab occupants may also want to move valuable or sensitive equipment or materials away from windows and shutdown and unplug sensitive electrical instruments.

Last updated November 16, 2011