Severe Weather

What to Do When Severe Weather Threatens

A tornado warning or thunderstorm warning will be issued by the National Weather Service when severe weather has been sighted or indicated by radar.

People close to the storm should take shelter immediately and remain there until the danger has passed. If you're further away, be prepared to take cover if threatening conditions are sighted.

In Linn County, the outdoor warning sirens are sounded for tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings with 70 mph winds or greater; or golf ball size hail or larger.
To maintain consistency and avoid confusion, Kirkwood follows the above criteria when sending emergency alerts in addition to sending alerts for tornado warnings.
For severe thunderstorm warnings, we will issue Kirkwood Alerts for warnings with 70mph winds or greater, and/or golf ball size hail or larger.

To learn more, call Public Safety at 319-398-1774.

It is the responsibility of all faculty and staff to be familiar with current emergency procedures and to direct/instruct all students, guests, and others of the procedures and of the suggested shelter areas.

Individuals should seek shelter in building interiors preferably on lower levels, and use areas such as hallways, or rooms without windows, and with doors that close. Avoid windows or areas with large amounts of glass, and large open areas such as atriums, gymnasiums, lobbies.

Daytime Hours

Regional or County Centers, and other campus sites are responsible to monitor weather conditions, and in severe weather take shelter as outlined in other sections of these procedures.
Facilities and Public Safety will monitor weather conditions. Watches or warnings, or any expected severe conditions will be reported to the Vice President of Facilities and Security, or his/her designee. In the event of a warning, the President’s Office will also be notified.
In the event that weather conditions deteriorate, the Vice President of Facilities and Public Safety, or his/her designee, will determine the need for a "take shelter" warning. The President's Office will be notified. Students, faculty, and staff will be notified via Kirkwood Alert. The President's Office will notify Cabinet members.
Administrative offices shall ensure that all personnel in their areas have been notified. It is critical that every room, on every floor, of every building be notified of threatening weather conditions.
Be polite but firm when directing others to shelter. If a person refuses to shelter, advise the individual they are putting themselves at risk, and go to shelter yourself.
When a thunderstorm warning is issued by the National Weather Service, Facilities and Public Safety will notify department(s) in wooden frame structures if situation is considered dangerous for occupants to remain.

Evenings and Weekends

During evening and weekend hours, each Regional or County Center and other campus sites are independently responsible to monitor weather conditions and in severe weather take shelter as outlined in other sections of these procedures.
On main campus, Facilities and Public Safety will monitor weather conditions.
In the event a Facilities administrator is not available, Public Safety and on-duty custodial staff shall be responsible for monitoring weather conditions and performing the tasks below.
Upon notification of a weather watch, Facilities and Public Safety will notify the Athletic Complex to inform them of the potential for severe weather.
If the path and severity of the storm warrants, the custodians will be informed through the Facilities administrator, of the situation and be advised to be alert for further information and instructions.
The Facilities administrator will make the determination for a "take shelter" warning. The warning will be relayed through Kirkwood Alert and the two-way radio.
Warnings shall be prioritized to Auto Collision, Auto Technology, the athletic complex, and all buildings in the farm area. The warning shall be communicated by all available means. Students, staff and faculty in these buildings should move into designated shelter areas during both a tornado and severe thunderstorm warning. If time or weather makes it unsafe to move people who are in these buildings, they should be instructed to seek shelter in building interiors, away from windows, and avoid large open areas.
Faculty, who teach in the evening and weekends, should be aware of potentially severe weather and take responsibility for directing their students to shelter. This is especially important of those involved in outdoor programs.

Where to Shelter

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Take shelter in either the men or women's restrooms.

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Immediately proceed to the basement and remain there until the danger has passed.

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Immediately go to the center core of the building away from windows, and in a room with doors that close.

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Take shelter in the restrooms or inner rooms of the building.

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Evacuate rooms immediately to the bathrooms, conference room, work area, or vending area. Get under a table and be sure all doors are closed to the room.

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Shelter areas are first floor interior rooms and restrooms away from windows.

The outdoor warning sirens will activate when danger is imminent. Shelter areas are the masonry block interior rooms without windows.

Animal Health/Diamond V: Central location away from glass

Art and Theatre Annex: Move to Cedar Hall

Athletic (Sports) Complex: Move to Jones Hall

Auto Collision: Move to Facilities and Security

Auto Technology: Move to Facilities and Security

Beef Facility: Move to Washington Hall or Animal Health

Benton Hall: Move to lower level away from windows

Cedar Hall: Move to first floor rooms and areas away from windows

Conference Center: Move to the restrooms or the Hotel basement

Equestrian Center: Move to Washington Hall or Animal Health

Facilities and Security: Move to inner office and hallway by the emergency operations center

Farm Area: Move to Washington Hall

Heritage: Move to Washington Hall

Horticulture/Floriculture: Move to center classroom area away from the windows

Hotel: Move to lower level basement

Iowa Hall: Move to lower level away from windows in the Dean of Students area

Johnson Hall: Move to team locker rooms

Jones Hall: Move to inner classrooms without windows

KCLL: Move to interior office/classrooms and restrooms

Kirkwood Hall: Move to first floor in IT space away from the windows

Linn Hall: Move to lower levels classrooms away from windows

Mansfield Center: Move to entrance to Ballantyne Auditorium

Nielsen Hall: Move to the first floor, the back hallway

Rec Center: Move to the restrooms or weight room area

Swine Facility: Move to Washington Hall

Washington Hall: Move to inner hallways and classrooms away from windows

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Shelter areas are lower level interior rooms, restrooms, and away from windows.

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Go to the lower level, west restroom, or the west storage room. Get under a table and be sure all doors are closed to the room.

The outdoor warning siren will activate when danger is imminent. Shelter areas are first floor interior rooms away from windows.

The outdoor warning sirens will activate when danger is imminent. Shelter areas are the interior rooms without windows.

Questions?

Visit Public Safety.

Kirkwood Public Safety
319-389-1774