Severe Weather Exercises Frequently Asked Questions

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Severe Weather ExercisesFrequently Asked
Questions

• Missouri State University
• Department Safety and Transportation

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1. Why does MSU conduct a severe storm exercise?
Do we really need to participate?

• The threat of an actual severe storm on campus is
  VERY REAL. The likelihood of physical injuries
  or casualties ARE VERY REAL. Exercises are done
  to help those on campus to prepare for this
  dangerous threat.
• Yes. You should participate by learning where the
  shelter areas are in the buildings in which you
  will be. We suggest you do weather related What
  if scenarios. Ask yourself, What WOULD I do if
  a tornado hit campus today?

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2. When are the storm exercises scheduled?

• The storm sirens are tested on the 2nd Wednesday
  of each month at 1000 a.m. If inclement weather
  prevents the test, it is postponed to the
  following week.
• The State Emergency Management Agency in
  Jefferson City conducts an annual statewide
  severe weather exercise each March. The exact
  date is determined in January of each year.

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3. Why are the sirens tested monthly?

• This is done to make sure the system is fully
  operational. If problems are identified, they
  are repaired as soon as possible.

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4. Why does MSU have its own sirens when the
city has them?

• The campus outdoor sirens handles the core of the
  campus while the city sirens are on the exterior
  boundaries of campus. One system naturally backs
  up the other when the other would fail to
  activate. On occasion, the campus siren system
  has actually and successfully provided back up
  the citys sirens that have failed in the
  boundary areas.

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5. When the sirens stop, does that mean the
warning is over?

• No. Absolutely NOT! The outdoor sirens run a
  three minute cycle then shuts down to cool before
  re-activated again.

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6. During the exercise and the siren stops, does
that mean the exercise is over?

• No. The sirens run a three minute cycle.
  Continue with your evacuation to your place of
  safety. Once everyone is accounted for, you may
  be released by the building coordinator to return
  to your class.

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The dining hall is full of people during the
exercise time. What do we do?

• If a tornado hit at that moment, just WHAT WOULD
  YOU DO?
• This is the very reason we participate in these
  exercises, to help you prepare for such emergency.

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8. Is it possible to extend the exercise?

• Continue with your evacuation to your place of
  safety. Once everyone is accounted for, you may
  be released by the building coordinator to return
  to your class or activity.

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9. Why isnt there an all clear?

• Normally, an all clear isnt given due to the
  possibility of a second strike within a watch
  area. Persons that survived an initial tornado
  hit have been killed by an unsuspecting second
  tornado hit.
• Tornados are unpredictable in their travel paths.
  They can hit anywhere, at anytime. The NWS will
  sometimes broadcast the length of the warning.
  Many times, the warning length is extended due to
  remaining severe weather conditions in the watch
  area.
• As for the exercise, it continues until the
  building coordinator and their designees complete
  their tasks. This may take a couple of minutes
  or maybe fifteen minutes. When this is done, you
  may return to your class or other activities.

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10. Why cant we hear the outdoor sirens inside
the buildings?

• The outdoor sirens ARE NOT designed to be heard
  inside the buildings. Theyre intended to alert
  those outside to seek shelter immediately out of
  harms way.
• If the siren is sounding, theres a very good
  chance, youre going to know it in short time.
  How? Persons entering the building for shelter
  should be key reason for you to see whats going
  on. Every effort has been made to place a
  Weather Alert Radio in each building where it can
  be monitored by the building coordinators and
  their staff. Building coordinators and their
  designees will be alerting occupants to seek
  shelter. You should make certain you are a part
  of a notification list.

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Why dont we have sirens INSIDE the buildings?

• Having active sirens in a building could have
  serious implications. Continuous or repetitive
  sounds such as a siren and or flashing lights
  could very likely trigger serious health problems
  (i.e. seizures, heart or anxiety attacks, etc.)
  or escalate potentially dangerous psychotic
  emotions in susceptible occupants which would
  increase the safety risk of others. Those
  persons having been alerted to the danger and
  moved to a place of safety, the inside siren
  would serve no other purpose.
• The siren could mask or camouflage noises from
  the storm or even the faint cry for help from
  someone injured by flying debris. Communication
  among the occupants would be difficult if they
  had to shout over a deafening siren. The less
  noise in a building or shelter area, the better.
  Silence is golden especially in the face of
  danger.

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Who activates the storm warning system?

• Ultimately, the National Weather Service issues
  all weather statements for watches and warnings.
  While the threat of severe weather exists, our
  Communications Center in the Department of Public
  Safety closely monitors several weather
  information resources. This includes but not
  limited to, local law enforcement agencies, The
  Weather Channel, NWS Weather Alert Radio, local
  radar images via the internet, even the local
  radio and television stations.
• Once a warning is issued for our area, a weather
  statement is broadcast to those using the MSU
  trunked radio system. The outdoor sirens are
  then activated from the Public Safety Building at
  636 E. Elm. We also utilize the Missouri State
  Alert System. It too will be activated through
  the Public Safety Communications Center.

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13. Since we cannot hear the outdoor sirens, can
we use the fire alarm speaker system for the
alert?

• With the current fire control system, the answer
  would be No. Activating a fire alarm system in
  a building would have the opposite effect on the
  building occupants. A fire alarm is an alert for
  occupants to evacuate to a safe place outside the
  building.

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What should I do if a warning is issued?

• Immediately seek shelter near you.

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15. Are straight-line winds dangerous?

• Yes. Sometimes, they can be very dangerous and
  just as destructive and deadly as a tornado.
  When these dangerous winds are identified, the
  storm warning system will be activated. You
  should seek shelter immediately.

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When should we leave the shelter area?

• During the exercise, the building coordinator
  will release you to return to your classes or
  activity after they have completed their portion
  of the exercise.
• During an actual WARNING, you should remain in
  the shelter until its SAFE to leave. Follow
  your building coordinators instructions.
  Theyre working hard to keep occupants safe and
  informed of the status of the severe weather.
  This could take a few minutes to extended periods
  of time depending on weather conditions. Upon
  leaving, use caution and be prepared to return.

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17. Our building has been damaged. The storm
appears to have passed and all is calm. But we
are asked to remain in the shelter longer than
seems necessary, why?

• Buildings that suffer structural damage pose
  another whole set of problems. Caution should be
  used exiting the building as there may be strong
  winds with flying debris, lightning, downed power
  lines, jagged glass, broken gas lines, downed
  trees and other falling objects. Staying in
  place may be the best option until a SAFE ROUTE
  is established by rescuers.

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18. What resources can we rely on for severe
weather warnings?

• There are several resources to consider. Here
  are just a few
• Local Radio and Television Stations.
• The Weather Channel
• NWS Weather Radio
• Outdoor Sirens
• Police Scanners
• Subscribe to the Missouri State Alert System
  located on Banner.

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19. We need a Weather Alert Radio. Where can we
get one?

• The NWS Weather Alert Radios can be purchased
  through the Department of Safety and
  Transportation at cost or through any local
  electronics dealer.

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Additional Information on Emergency Response and
Evacuation Procedures

• The Emergency Response and Evacuation Plan
  establishes policies and procedures that will be
  employed when there exists the potential for an
  emergency condition, such as severe weather an
  emergency situation has or is occurring or in
  any situation where it is necessary and
  beneficial for the operations of MSU to be
  conducted out of a single location.
• In order to ensure the various plans at MSU will
  work in an emergency situation, MSU participates
  in drills and exercises that include campus
  personnel as well as local, county and state
  public safety agencies.

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Additional Information on Emergency Response and
Evacuation Procedures

• The University has several procedures in place to
  communicate with faculty, staff, students and
  media regarding any emergency on campus and has
  established an emergency mass notification system
  known as the Missouri State Alert, on the
  Springfield and West Plains campuses.
• Complete details about the Emergency Response
  Plan and the Missouri State Alert System can be
  found at the following website address
  http//www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm.

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• Thank You For Your Participation