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The Bulldog - For the SWOSU Family

Tornado Procedures

tornado

Definitions

Watch

Conditions are favorable for tornado or severe weather.

Warning

Tornado may be imminent. Take shelter.

Signals

Weatherford Campus

On SWOSU campus, the severe weather warning will be made via the sirens from the City of Weatherford. Tornado watches and warnings will also be monitored by a radio at the SWOSU Campus Police Department.

Sayre Remote Location

Tornado watch and warnings will be monitored by a radio at the SWOSU-Sayre Dean’s Office by a Campus Officer. Under a “watch” all buildings on the Sayre remote location are notified that the area is under a watch. All shelters are opened by the assigned persons.

Steps of Action

In the event the sirens sound you should

  1. If you are in unsafe location at that time, go to designated storm shelter for that building at the direction of the faculty/staff.
  2. Go to the lowest level, on the inside wall and assume a kneeling position, head down, with hands covering head.
  3. Faculty/staff needs to close classroom doors.
  4. Faculty should keep their class rosters with them and remain with their classes to be sure students are following the Tornado Evacuation procedure and to verify student count.
  5. Wait for all clear signals before returning to classroom.
  6. Avoid all large clear-span buildings (gym, cafeteria, etc.) during a tornado.
  7. In an outside office, window blinds are to be closed.
  8. A radio should be located within hearing distance of office personnel if at all possible.

Designated Storm Shelter Areas for Each Building

These areas are the safest in each building in case of a tornado.

Each building has designated people who see that the storm shelter area for that building is unlocked and accessible for faculty/students in the building.

Weatherford Campus

Designated People by Building 

  • Administration: Basement
  • Art: Basement
  • Assessment: Room 108, west side of the building
  • Beeks Erick (CPP Classroom Annex): 1st floor, northwest end of CPP
  • Barker (Music Therapy/Language Center): Campbell, 1st floor, central hallway
  • Berrong Music Hall: Main Hallway
  • Black Kettle Hall: Basement
  • Bookstore/Market: Basement
  • Burton House: Basement
  • Business Enterprise Center: Interior Room (Mesquite)
  • Campbell Building: 1st floor, central hallway, away from windows and doors
  • Chemistry/Pharmacy/Physics: 1st floor, northwest end of CPP
  • Conference Center: Two Interior Rooms (Mesquite & Teak Rooms)
  • Education: Basement
  • Engineering Technology Brick: Basement in Stone Building
  • Engineering Technology Stone: Basement
  • Field House/RWFH: North classrooms/hallway
  • Fine Arts: Lobby stairwells/lobby instrument storage/entrance ramps to auditorium
  • Fitness Center: Neff Hall basement
  • Hilltop Theater: Dressing rooms and dressing room hallways
  • Library: Basement
  • Mann Hall: Basement
  • Mary Mabry Savage Apartments: Neff Hall basement
  • Neff Hall: Basement
  • Oklahoma Hall/GOLD Program: Main hallway/lobby TV area
  • Parker Center: Basement
  • Physical Plant: Northwest room/file storage area
  • Pioneer Cellular Event Center: Basement hallway/lobby TV area
  • Print Shop/Mail Room: Women's restroom
  • Rock Building: Interior hallway
  • Science: Basement
  • Stafford Center: Basement
  • Stewart Hall: Basement
  • Strother (Pharmacy II Annex): Basement
  • Student Government: Basement
  • Student Union: Basement
  • Theatre Scene Shop: Lowest level away from windows
  • Upward Bound: Basement
  • Wellness Center: Locker rooms/interior hallway of SHS office area/1st floor enclosed stairwells

There are two volunteer storm shelters for SWOSU employees and students:

  • Science Building basement (east and west entrances, ADA-accessible entrance at the first-floor east entrance)
  • Al Harris Library Auditorium (west entrance).

Sayre Remote Location

Designated People by Building

  • Alexander Building: 101, 110, 119, 120, 130, Restrooms

All students should be reminded that lowest level away from windows and doors is standard tornado precautions in all SWOSU Buildings. NO ANIMALS, EXCEPT FOR SERVICE ANIMALS, ALLOWED IN ANY SHELTER. Any questions should be directed to SWOSU Campus Police 580.774.3111.