IU will be conducting full scale tornado drills on all campuses today.
This is the first time the drills will be conducted not during spring break, but rather with students present on campus. Everyone on campus is expected to participate in the drill and treat it like a real tornado emergency.
“Tornadoes pose a significant threat to this region and can strike at any time,” said Diane Mack, director of IU Emergency Management and Continuity, in a press release. “Knowing where to go when you hear the tornado sirens or receive the IU-Notify alert could save your life.”
IU-Notify alerts will be sent between 10 and 10:30 a.m. and 7 and 8 p.m. to announce the beginning of the drill.
Another round of alerts will be sent to announce the all-clear. In the event of severe weather, the drills will be postponed until March 23 at the same times.
The drill will take roughly 15 minutes. In certain buildings, staff will help usher students to designated safety locations — generally shelters, hallways and stairwells. Students with special access needs should try to find out the designated locations in their building beforehand and make the necessary arrangements to get there during the drill.
The safest places to be during tornadoes are in basements, interior rooms or hallways and severe weather shelters, which are indicated by a tornado funnel cloud symbol. The Protect IU website also provides information about preparing for tornadoes and severe weather.
The drill is planned in conjunction with Operation Stormy Weather, a University campaign geared toward preparedness in emergency weather situations.
Taylor Telford
