VCU news

By Mike Porter

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is conducting a statewide tornado drill on March 11. And while the day offers an opportunity to review severe weather preparedness and safety information, VCU Emergency Preparedness Director Adam Crowe said it’s important to remember tornadoes can strike anytime, anywhere.

“Tornadoes are common in Virginia,” Crowe said. “It is important to realize that tornadoes can strike anywhere – even in urban areas like the VCU community.”

Crowe is calling on VCU students and employees to review tornado emergency plans and learn about what would happen at VCU if a tornado were threatening the community by reviewing the Weather safety information on the VCU Alert page.

“While the risk from tornadoes cannot be eliminated, there are quick and easy steps that students, faculty and staff can take to prepare themselves for tornadoes and greatly reduce the possibility that their lives are impacted,” Crowe said.

It’s important to follow forecasts when severe weather is approaching and understand the terms used by meteorologists when discussing a tornado. A tornado watch means conditions are conducive to the generation of a tornado and a tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or is indicated on radar and people should seek shelter immediately. VCU will activate the outdoor sirens when a tornado warning has been issued.

Here are some additional tips.

If inside:

·  Go to a windowless, interior room on the lowest possible level of the building.

·  If you cannot go to a lower level, go to an interior hallway or a smaller interior room without windows such as a bathroom or closet.

·  Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways or large rooms.

·  Position yourself under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a heavy table, desk or workbench and hold on to it.

·  Use arms to protect head and neck.

If outdoors:

·  Try to find shelter immediately in the nearest substantial building.

·  If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie down flat in a ditch or low-lying area, or crouch by the nearest substantial building.  

·  Use arms to protect head and neck.

If in a vehicle:

·  Get out of the vehicle immediately and take shelter in the nearest sturdy building.

·  If there is no time to get indoors, pull your vehicle off the road, lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from your vehicle.  

·  Do not take shelter under a highway overpass or bridge.

For more helpful tips and information about weather safety and other emergency preparedness topics at VCU, visit http://alert.vcu.edu/index.php.

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