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Severe Weather

Severe Weather

When severe weather develops, keep alert of changing conditions by listening/viewing current weather conditions on internet, radio, etc.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issues a tornado warning when a tornado has been spotted, or when Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado.  When a tornado warning is issued for your town or county, take immediate precautions.

UMSL Police Department monitors the “NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards" broadcast (the radio warning system used by the National Weather Service) and will issue appropriate warnings.

When you hear an outdoor warning siren activated or are otherwise notified of a tornado warning (such as by the UMSL emergency notification system) activate the BEST Basic Building Emergency Operation Plan.

After the emergency has passed, call Campus Police at 314-516-5155 to report building damage or outdoor damage (trees down, electrical lines down, road blockage) that may impede emergency responders such as fire or ambulance crews from arriving.

Lightning at Outdoor Events

If you are involved in planning an outdoor event, you should develop a Lightning Safety Plan to address the threat of lightning.  The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has specific guidelines to mitigate lightning hazards.

NCAA recommends the following:

Designate a person to monitor threatening weather and to make the decision to remove a team or individuals from an athletics site or event.

Lightning safety experts strongly recommend that when the monitor observes 30 seconds between seeing the lightning flash and hearing thunder, all individuals should have left the athletics site and reached a “safer structure or location”.

“Safer structure or location” includes buildings frequently used or occupied by people (which have plumbing/electrical systems that help ground the building) or any vehicle with a sturdy metal roof (not a convertible).

“Safer structure or location” does not include dugouts, rain or picnic shelters, golf carts or locations near light poles, towers or fences.

Know where the closest “safer structure or location” is to the field or playing area, and know how long it takes to get to that location.

Download NCAA lightning safety guidelines (PDF 5MB)