by James Keeton
Contributing writer
On Feb. 10, 2009 a powerful EF-4 tornado ravaged Lone Grove and killed eight people. Most would consider February a winter month but Carter County learned that day that it’s never too early to start thinking about severe weather.
With midterms coming up and the nicer weather that goes along with spring, students at Southeastern have a lot on their minds. However, thinking ahead about severe weather can go a long way in saving lives.
The first step in surviving a tornado is to know when one is imminent. Checking your local weather stations frequently for severe weather updates can give you an advantage this spring.
According to the SE Emergency Handbook, a tornado watched is issued when conditions in the area are capable of producing a tornado. A tornado warning is issued whenever a tornado is actually on the ground or funnel rotation has been indicated by radar.
If you are in campus, listen for civil defense sirens and instructions for Campus Police. Proceed with safety to the nearest designated shelter. Follow all instructions from faculty, staff and Emergency Operations Managers.
“There are tornado shelters all over the campus. Students need to familiarize themselves with
these locations,” Says Steve Harman, Chief of Environmental Health and Safety. “Emails are sent to faculty and staff showing shelter locations.”
These designated shelters include the Morrison main basement, the Morrison custodial break room basement (north side of building), the Fine Arts basement, the Fine Arts Little Theater ADA safe room, the Biology basement (northeast side of building), the Bloomer Arena dressing rooms and north hallways and the Paul Laird Field west bleachers residence life students designated shelter.
It is equally important to be prepared for severe weather when you are off campus. Identify the safest locations in your home and at work.
Many people have survived strong tornadoes in a closet or small interior room without windows. Usually the safest place will be on the lowest floor in center of building.
When selecting your designated safe places, it is important to avoid buildings with wide span and glass overhead, such as gymnasiums and atriums. Do not stand in front of any glass windows.
Most storms travel from the southwest in a northeast direction. Tornados are measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale from EF-0 to the most powerful EF-5. They are measured by the wind speed of the storm compared to damage.
You should get to a shelter if you can but what if a tornado strikes while you are stranded outside?
“If you absolutely cannot find shelter you should seek a ditch or low place in the landscape,” Harman said.
It is not recommended to take shelter under a highway overpass if you can avoid it. If you are in a vehicle or mobile home, you should leave and seek shelter elsewhere. Both are extremely vulnerable to the extreme winds associated with tornados.
Tornados are not the only threat that comes with severe weather. Hail and lightning often accompany these storms so it is best to seek shelter inside a sturdy building if possible.
No place is guaranteed to be 100 percent safe during a tornado but taking the proper precautions can greatly increase your chances of survival during these deadly weather phenomenon. Having a plan can make a real difference when seconds count.