What better way to prepare for an emergency than to practice one?

The entire university will take part in a campus-wide tornado drill next Friday, Sept. 29, beginning at 9:45 a.m. Everyone should plan to participate by acting just as you would during an actual emergency.

The drill will begin with the campus tornado sirens and coincide with the monthly testing of all warning sirens in Putnam County.

"This drill is an important opportunity for each of us to prepare for an emergency situation," says President Bob Bell. "You may recall that Austin Peay was hit by a tornado several years ago, and Volunteer State Community College was severely damaged when a tornado hit that campus more recently.

"I want to emphasize the importance of this exercise. Everyone on campus must participate. In order for that to happen, I need your help and support," Bell adds.

"Therefore, when the drill begins, all classes and offices must be released so students, faculty and staff can immediately go to your building's tornado shelter area. We will evaluate building reports on how well the drill was conducted, and we will share that information with you through the Tech Times."

The only exception for the drill is in case of inclement weather in our area at the time of the drill. If the weather is actually bad that day, including rain alone, the drill will be postponed, and any sirens or emergency notifications should be considered as authentic (not a drill).

When the drill begins, everyone must seek shelter in a designated area. Each building has a coordinator designated to monitor weather radios and notify people inside the buildings. Each building also has shelter areas clearly marked. Seek shelter in the lowest levels of buildings or an interior hallway remaining clear of exterior windows and doors.

Also, immediately evacuate areas without reinforced construction such as auditoriums, gymnasiums, and large rooms with wide freespan roofs.
Those who are outside should seek shelter in the nearest building when the alarms sound.

If caught in open areas, move away from the tornado's path at a right angle. If there is no time to escape, lie flat in the nearest depression, such as a ravine or ditch.

Tornado warning procedures are listed below, but can also be found in the Campus Emergency Plan located in each office or online at the Environmental Health and Safety Office web site.

Tornado Warning Procedures for Campus

1. Once a tornado watch has been issued, a person working in the designated office where the weather alert radio(s) is located for each building should monitor weather information via weather alert radio, local radio station, Internet weather site, television or other reliable source. Watch information should be communicated throughout the building. This can be accomplished via word of mouth, by walking the building, or by telephone.

2. If a tornado warning is issued, the warning sirens will be activated by the Cookeville/Putnam County Emergency Management Agency. (University Police dispatchers serve as backup for activating the sirens on campus). Immediately upon notification of a warning, all organized university activities will cease so that students, faculty, staff and visitors can seek shelter immediately. This includes class instruction, meetings, conferences, athletic events, other academic activities, food services, etc. A person working in the designated office where the weather alert radio(s) is located for each building should monitor their media source for warning information and communicate this to building personnel once they have reached the shelter area. Remember, a tornado watch means it's time to pay attention, a tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted, and it is time to seek shelter.

3. Classes, meetings and other special activities are routinely held outside of normal business hours during the week and on the weekends. The class instructor and/or person in charge of classes and other activities held outside of normal business hours is responsible for ensuring these procedures are followed.

4. During the warning period, and for a time thereafter, personnel need to stay alert to repeat warnings, as well as the extension of existing warnings. Weather conditions change quickly when tornado conditions are present in the area. Persons working in offices where weather alert radios are located should continue to pay close attention to their media source until all severe weather has left the area.

5. Normal activities will not resume until the warning for Putnam County has expired. Expiration times for warnings are broadcast over weather alert radio as well as other media sources.

6. It is each individual’s responsibility to seek shelter. The university policy is that persons will be strongly advised to seek shelter and will be shown where shelters are located. Shelter areas are posted in each building.

7. Employees who are aware of visitors or persons with disabilities in their area should render assistance to these individuals as needed.

8. When a warning is issued for Putnam County there are some areas on campus that, if occupied during the warning period, could be imminently dangerous. Some that immediately come to mind are the concourse of Hooper Eblen Center, the OVC Room, and the large dining rooms of the grill and cafeteria. Evacuation of these areas will be mandatory, and occupants will be encouraged to proceed to the shelter areas within the building.