Tornado Safety

The following information is provided concerning procedures that should be followed in case of tornado watches or warnings.

Tornado Watch

A tornado WATCH is issued by the National Weather Service when weather conditions are right for a tornado to form. No action is indicated during a tornado watch except to be ready to move if a warning is issued. To keep informed on local severe weather information, listen to FM radio stations 102.3, 98.7, or 107.1 or an Atlanta TV station (channels 2, 11, 46 and weather channel 40). RA offices are equipped with weather radios that sound when weather is inclement.

Tornado Warning

A tornado WARNING is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted. If Campus Safety receives a warning from the National Weather Service, they will activate the siren on Hermann hall. Police cars will be dispatched with loudspeakers and/or sirens to warn the Berry Community. The TV stations listed above will also issue advisories.

Procedures

Persons should move immediately to shelter in a reinforced building. The basements or interior hallways on a lower floor are safest. Upper stories are unsafe. If there is no time to descend, a closet or small room with stout walls or an inside hallway will give some protection against flying debris. Stay away from windows! AVOID AUDITORIUMS OR GYMNASIUMS WITH LARGE POORLY SUPPORTED CEILINGS AND ROOFS. If you are in a building, do not go outside to another building, even if you think that building would provide more protection--you are safer indoors.

• Students in regular residence halls should proceed to first floor hallways or basements (when possible) and wait there until they are notified that the tornado warning has expired.

• Students in the Townhouses should go to an interior rooms without windows (bathrooms) and wait there until they are notified that the tornado warning has expired. Do not attempt to go to any other nearby building (such as Cook, Ladd or Hermann Hall). If you are in an upper suite, we encourage you to go downstairs to a neighbor's Townhouse if you can safely do so.

• Students in Dorothy and Robinwood Cottages should go to their basements and wait there until they are notified that the tornado warning has expired.