Tornado Safety at the University of Oklahoma

Here is the text on university of Oklahoma’s emergency preparedness web page giving instructions for safety in severe weather and tornados. It may help you create or update your own instructions.

“The City of Norman maintains a citywide civil defense warning siren that will be sounded in the event of a tornado warning. If severe weather is imminent and you are outdoors, move indoors as quickly as possible.

1. Consider obtaining an emergency kit and weather radio for your department.

2. Shut off any equipment that might be affected by a temporary loss of electricity.

3. Close hallway doors as you leave to shield the corridors from flying debris.

4. Move to any of the best available refuge areas in the building. Become familiar with the location of the best available refuge area in your building before a storm occurs.

5. When you are off campus or in buildings without designated shelters, move to a small room on lower levels, an interior hallway or basement. GET IN, GET DOWN AND COVER UP!

6. Avoid upper floors, large glassed areas, auditoriums and windows.

7. Stay out of parking garages, auditoriums and exterior walkways. Stay away from electrical appliances.

8. Use the telephone for emergency calls ONLY.

9. STAY CALM AND ALERT.

10. Call 911 to report any damage.

11. There WILL NOT be an all clear signal from the siren system in Norman.”

To see the University of Oklahoma text online, and for additional emergency preparation plans, visit http://goo.gl/UDH5Ni).

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Moline-Coal Valley School District to Consolidate Two Schools into New Facility

    The Moline-Coal Valley School District in Moline, Ill., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff from two existing schools, according to local news. Robert Ontiveros Elementary School will serve as the new home for Lincoln-Irving Elementary School and Willard Elementary School.

  • Doerr School of Sustainability Accelerator

    From Concrete Warehouse to Innovation Hub: Accelerating Sustainability at Stanford

    The transformation of a once windowless, concrete publishing warehouse into a sun-drenched center for global innovation began with a single, fundamental challenge: how to turn an industrial storage shell into a space built for human connection.

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.

  • New City School

    Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Transforming New City School

    When New City School in St. Louis suffered catastrophic flood damage in July 2022, the event could have marked a serious setback for the 100-year-old institution. Instead, it became a forward-looking opportunity.