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

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

Digital Edition