Don't be Dorothy, take cover
Cindy Petersen
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
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According to Jensen, the warm weather is causing people to become more active and to be outside more, without access to radios or televisions to warn them.
"Even though most tornadoes happen in the early spring, people should be on the lookout for tornadoes at any time of the year. Tornadoes are unpredictable and can come up fast and without much warning. Any time a watch is issued people should be aware of changing weather," she said.
Jensen said that students living in apartment buildings that don't have a basement or tornado shelter should go to a small, windowless, first floor interior room like a closet or bathroom.
"The middle of the house or apartment is always your best bet," she said. Try not to get next to an outside wall if possible," she added.
Kirkwood students who find themselves on campus during a tornado warning should do the same thing they would do if they were at home, said Jensen. "Go to the lowest level possible toward the center of the room. There are signs in every building telling students and faculty where they should go during a tornado," said Jensen.
According to Jensen, if a tornado warning is issued an "Epop" will appear on all Kirkwood computer screens and then a Kirkwood Alert message will be sent. "Students and faculty may or may not be able to hear the city sirens go off but those sirens are more for the people who are outside. It is everyone's responsibility to pass the word along to those people who may not know," she added.
For more information on tornado safety or questions about where to go during a tornado warning please contact Jensen or the facilities department at 398-5491.
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