TORNADO WARNING PROCEDURES

You have been referred to this page because the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a tornado warning for our area.

You will be notified via text message and/or email when the warning has expired.  (If you are not registered to receive Wofford Emergency Alerts, go to the Emergency Alerts registration page.)  

Precautionary/preparedness actions:

Take shelter inside a building, away from windows and doors; make sure there are as many walls and floors between you and the outside as possible.  Note that vehicles and mobile homes should be abandoned for sturdier shelter.

If you are on Wofford's campus, and can safely do so, proceed to the designated emergency location in the building you're in or the closets building, if you are outside.

Wofford Emergency locations:

(Dial Ext. 4911 for assistance) 

IN CASE OF EVACUATION: 

In the event of an incident requiring the evacuation of part or all of campus, follow the directions provided by the Wofford Emergency Alert System (text, email and or siren). You will be instructed to shelter in place, evacuate to another location on campus or go to a pick up location.

Shelter in place instructions: Go directly to your residence hall room. Close all windows and doors in your room. Place a towel behind the crack at the door threshold. RA/RDs will ensure that residents are inside rooms and not in hallways and that all hall windows are shut and exterior/stairwell doors are shut. Physical Plant personnel will turn off all air handling devices for the building.

In the event of an emergency, the college’s official spokespersons are Laura Corbin and Doyle Boggs. They can be reached at ext. 4180 or 809-8963. 

 GENERAL EMERGENCY GUIDELINES DURING TORNADO WARNINGS: 

(From NOAA.GOV) 

In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.  

In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.  

In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.  

In a mobile home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, you are probably safer outside, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter out in the open. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. If your community has a tornado shelter, go there fast. If there is a sturdy permanent building within easy running distance, seek shelter there. Otherwise, lie flat on low ground away from your home, protecting your head. If possible, use open ground away from trees and cars, which can be blown onto you.  

At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado. If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Otherwise, park the car as quickly and safely as possible -- out of the traffic lanes. [It is safer to get the car out of mud later if necessary than to cause a crash.] Get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If in the open country, run to low ground away from any cars (which may roll over on you). Lie flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.  

In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.  

In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.  

In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly but orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.