Spring weather awareness

Spring brings the potential for severe weather in Iowa. Thunderstorms and tornadoes are often unpredictable and can develop quickly, which is why preparation is important.

We encourage the campus community to take time to review the emergency procedures for tornadoes as well as the severe weather shelter areas for campus buildings. This also is an opportunity to discuss or develop a team plan for severe weather.

Emergency procedures

To help you prepare, Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) has a severe weather preparedness page with safety tips and information about weather conditions:

• Severe storms and tornadoes – These are dangerous storms that may include lightning, hail, powerful winds and flash flooding. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air, shaped like a funnel that extends from a thunderstorm and contacts the ground.
• Flash floods – Floods are among the most common natural disaster. Flash floods occur suddenly due to rapidly rising water along a stream or low-lying area.
• Excessive heat – Temperature, increased humidity, decreased air movement or lack of shading from direct heat can affect the potential for heat stress in your workplace.

Weather alerts, notifications

Outdoor warning sirens on campus will sound for tornado warnings and when winds exceed 80 miles per hour. The sirens are intended to alert those outdoors to take shelter. We recommend having another method to receive weather-related notifications.

The National Weather Service will send text messages through the Wireless Emergency Alert system to WEA-capable phones during an emergency. The alerts are for extreme weather conditions including: tornados, severe thunderstorms (when damage threat is destructive), flash flooding, etc.

The National Weather Service (Des Moines/central Iowa) is a reliable source of information when severe weather is forecasted. You also can take advantage of the services provided by several local media outlets. This will allow you to customize notifications to your location.

Severe weather closings

While rare, there are occasions when the university will cancel classes or close due to weather conditions. University policy provides guidance and outlines expectations for employees related to cancellations and closings. If you are unfamiliar with the policy, we encourage you to access it through the policy library.

Weather announcements

The university will share information about cancellations and closings through a message sent to all Iowa State email addresses and on the ISU Alert website and social media accounts @IowaStateU (Twitter and Facebook) and @IowaStateUNews (Twitter).

Thank you for doing your part to be prepared for severe weather.

Sincerely,

Michael Newton, Associate Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police

Paul Richmond, Assistant Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety