Severe Weather Awareness Week is March 28-April 1
Released on 03/21/2005, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
WHEN: Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2005
Chancellor Harvey Perlman of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and UNL's vice chancellors are encouraging the UNL community to participate in a statewide tornado warning exercise on March 30. The exercise is part of the March 28-April 1 observance of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
The statewide tornado watch/warning test will be between 10 and 11 a.m. At that time, the Emergency Services sirens for Lincoln/Lancaster County and the university's Tornado Warning Policy will be activated. The drill will end after 10 minutes. The simulated watch message will go out over radio and TV stations in the morning. If this were an actual watch message, it would mean that conditions were right for possible tornado activity and everyone should remain alert.
The National Weather Service and Emergency Service Agencies for Lincoln/Lancaster County sponsor the statewide Severe Weather Awareness Week each year to make the public aware of the upcoming tornado season and to test tornado-warning systems statewide.
UNL will participate with Emergency Services for Lincoln/Lancaster County and test its systems when the outdoor sirens are sounded. All faculty, staff and students are requested to participate in the test to familiarize themselves with the locations of their designated shelters and the procedures to follow should UNL be struck by a tornado.
The official UNL Tornado Warning Policy can be found at http://bf.unl.edu/policepolicy/TornadoWarning.shtml. The UNL Severe Weather Awareness Presentation and FAQ's can be found online at http://police.unl.edu.
University administrators said they understand the disruption that such a drill may cause to classes and work. But since Nebraska is in the tornado zone, they said they believe that it is important to join the city and county in their emergency planning exercise. Your cooperation is appreciated.
For any questions concerning Severe Weather Awareness Week, please contact Colleen Huls at 472-2131.
CONTACT: Owen Yardley, Chief, Police Services, (402) 472-8809 (oyardley2@unl.edu)