Severe Weather Awareness Week begins on Monday. On Wednesday, March 26, UNMC will take part in a campuswide safety drill.
The National Weather Service will issue a test tornado watch and warning between 10 and 11 a.m. The hospital will also conduct an additional test tornado watch/warning drill on the evening/night shift around 9 p.m. In addition, Douglas County will sound civil defense warning sirens.
Everyone should review the Severe Weather Plan in the emergency preparedness guide and your department’s plan. Make sure you know what to do and where to go the event of a tornado warning. Take the stairs, not the elevator.
“Tornadoes are a high priority threat for our organization,” said John Hauser, safety manager for UNMC. “A review of the tornadoes that hit Joplin and Oklahoma City showed that preparation is important.”
The weather service has a “TORNADO SAFETY: What You Can Do!” flyer that you can share with your family. For smart phone users, there is a Tornado app that can send realtime tornado alerts for your area. It has useful information to help you plan and prepare.
Employees, faculty or students who experience problems during the drill or wish to make suggestions can contact Hauser or complete an online survey.