WEATHER EMERGENCIES AND ALERTS
One of the guiding principles at The University of Alabama is to promote the personal safety of our students, faculty and staff during severe weather events. However, it is impossible to develop policies that anticipate every weather-related emergency. The following is intended to provide additional assistance for responding to severe weather on campus.
UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general, classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues tornado warnings that include The University of Alabama campus. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather-related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should take the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service issues a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life-saving actions. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.
WHAT TO DO IN A WEATHER EMERGENCY
- In the case of a tornado warning (a tornado has been sighted or detected by radar), all University activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories.
- If you are in a building, please move immediately to the best available refuge area or lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, office or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired.
- Classes in session, when the tornado warning is issued, can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor.
- Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.
- Faculty should encourage students in your classroom to follow these procedures by remaining in the building and going with the students to the lowest level of the building.
- Crimson Ride will immediately suspend operations, and the driver will direct passengers to shelter in select buildings.
Remember, when you are notified of severe weather that may impact the campus area:
- Move into the nearest storm shelter or best available refuge area. Locate storm shelters and best available refuge areas by visiting the shelters page, on the UA campus map or by using the UA Safety mobile app.
- If you can’t get to a campus storm shelter, each building has a best available refuge area that is usually on the lowest floor in the center of the building, away from windows.
- Stay tuned to 92.5 FM UA Info Radio or other radio or television stations for further weather statements.
- An all-clear will be given through UA Alerts when the severe weather threat is over for the campus area.
- Remain inside until the severe weather leaves the Tuscaloosa area.
Technology now allows the National Weather Service to be more accurate in identifying geographic areas to be included in a tornado warning. If you receive notification of a tornado warning through any of the methods listed below, move to safety immediately. UA notifies the campus community about tornado warnings using some or all of the following methods:
- UA Alerts, which simultaneously deploys text messages, emails and phone calls
- Through the UA Safety mobile app
- Digital signage located in campus buildings
- Notifications on UA office phones
- Desktop notifications on computers that have the Alertus Desktop Notification software installed and that are on the UA network.
- Campus PA system, located in most academic buildings and residence halls (interior and exterior speakers)
- The @UA_Safety Twitter account
- Media alerts through 92.5 FM UA Info Radio and other TV and radio stations
- UA home page
- Digital signage across campus
- Crimson Ride bus marquees