Any time of day, any time of year.
That’s when tornadoes and other severe weather can strike.
And that’s a key message of
Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 24-30, as Jon Kujat, Central Michigan University's manager of risk management, environmental health and safety, and emergency management, encourages the campus community to prepare for severe weather events.
Tornadoes are especially common during the late spring and early summer and can devastate buildings and property in seconds. The average lead time for warning of a tornado is 10-15 minutes, which is why students, faculty and staff are encouraged to prepare and plan before a tornado strikes.
University preparedness plans and notification mechanisms include:
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An
emergency action plan for each building on campus that includes procedures for tornadoes and other emergencies.
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Status as a
storm-ready facility.
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NOAA weather radios located throughout campus, usually in building coordinators’ offices.
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Floor plans showing
tornado shelters for every floor and every building on the main campus and Global Campus sites in Michigan.
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Central Alert
emergency notification system.
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Exterior
warning sirens (not intended to be heard inside of buildings).
More information is available on CMU’s
emergency management webpage, the
Michigan Committee for Severe Weather Awareness, the
National Weather Service and
Michigan State Police.