EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

he OU Police Department is responsible for liaison and coordination as required with local, county, state, and federal Emergency Management authorities. For information on institutional aspects of large-scale emergencies, contact the University Police at 325-2864 or by email at —

SEVERE WEATHER

The OUDPS has developed an informational and procedural document dealing with severe weather. For copies of this document and information pertaining to severe weather and emergency preparedness, contact the University Police at 325-2864 or by email at —

TORNADO PROCEDURES

The City of Norman maintains a city-wide civil defense warning siren network which is used to signal imminent danger from tornadoes. A steady siren for three to five minutes means IMMINENT DANGER; seek a protective area immediately.

No all-clear signal is sounded on the siren system. An all-clear status message may be broadcast by the National Weather Service (NWS) on the special frequency of 162.400 MHZ (for persons with "weather radios") or on the local public broadcast media, in cooperation with the City of Norman Civil Defense office.

1. Seek a protected area —
   
   
   1. Buildings on campus of substantial masonry construction are generally considered safe for use as protective areas from a tornado; most have basements or subterranean levels. Exceptions are gymnasiums, auditoriums, cafeterias, and other structures with wide-space unsupported roofs, and buildings of frame construction. Protection should be sought on the lowest level open to the public, keeping well away from glass. Windows and doors should generally be closed.
       
      
   2. If the sirens sound, classes will be dismissed. Instructors are to advise students to proceed to a lower level hallway or the basement of the building. Classrooms and other spaces with exterior windows are not suitable for protection; small, interior spaces are best. Under no circumstances should anyone leave a building after the sirens have sounded.
   
    
   
   3. If the sirens sound, University functions will be terminated. Participants will be advised to seek a protective area on a lower level or in the basement.
       
       Buildings with broad, flat roofs or large open interior spaces (such as auditoriums, cafeterias, or gymnasiums) should not be used or considered as protective areas. Many such areas, however, have adjacent service spaces (such as corridors, walk-in coolers, or showers) which are reasonably safe. Occupants should move to the nearest enclosed space in the same building without exterior windows.  
       
      Under no other circumstances should anyone leave a building after the sirens have sounded.
        
      Once the sirens sound,
      it's too late to seek remote shelter.
    
   
   4. Remain in the protective area until the severe weather has cleared the area or until broadcast media indicate that the danger is past.

The OU Police Department usually disseminates a Tornado Information brochure campus-wide in late February or early March at the beginning of the tornado "season." For more information or specific instructions for your space with regard to severe weather, contact the OU Police Department by phone at 325-2864 or by email at —

Additional tornado and severe weather information for the OU Norman Campus, including campus protective areas, is available at the OUPD Tornado Safety Information webpage online at http://www.ou.edu/oupd/tornado.htm.

OUPD also provides a printable "Adobe .PDF" file version of the annual Tornado Safety Information "handout", online at http://www.ou.edu/oupd/tornado.pdf.

CLOSURE OF THE UNIVERSITY

The University has developed a procedure by which the administration will notify central Oklahoma public broadcast and print media should conditions necessitate closure or delayed opening of the institution. Sufficient notice will be given to enable the media to make timely dissemination; if the University is not included in lists of public institutions closed or whose hours are amended, it should be assumed that business will be conducted as usual.

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