March 9, 2016  

Campus-wide tornado drill scheduled for March 22

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The National Weather Service, in conjunction with several Indiana state agencies, will conduct a statewide test of communication systems at approximately 10:15 a.m. and 7:35 p.m. on March 22.

The test is part of the National Weather Service “Severe Weather Preparedness Week,” as designated by Gov. Mike Pence. If there is any chance of severe weather anywhere in Indiana that day, the special test will be postponed to Wednesday, March 23.

The weather service is working in conjunction with the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Broadcasters Association, American Red Cross and Amateur Radio Operators to conduct the test.

As part of Indiana’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Purdue’s Emergency Preparedness and Planning Office will coordinate a voluntary campus-wide tornado drill on March 22 during the state’s morning drill only. More information on the voluntary drill can be found on the Emergency Preparedness website. Multiple warning systems will be activated at 10:15 a.m. The systems that will be activated include the All Hazard Outdoor Warning Sirens (intended to warn those outdoors only), text message, Purdue’s @purdueemegency Twitter, desktop popup alert, alert beacon activation, some digital signs and the Boiler TV emergency alerting system layers of the Purdue Alert notification system.

The All Hazard Outdoor Warning Sirens will sound again at 7:35 p.m. as part of the state’s drill, but the other Purdue Alert warning notification layers will not be activated.

Building deputies and other building leaders are encouraged to take this opportunity to practice their Building Emergency Plans by organizing a shelter-in-place drill. A tornado warning shelter-in-place drill is designed to: ensure building occupants know what to do in an emergency; ensure that there is adequate space in shelter-in-place locations; and test the functionality of weather radios, computers and other communication devices.

Purdue University is located in the county with the highest number of tornado touchdowns in the state, so even if a tornado warning shelter-in-place drill is not possible, building occupants should take a few minutes to review their Building Emergency Plan. They should also familiarize themselves with their building’s shelter-in-place locations and review the Severe Weather Tornadoes and Thunderstorm procedures published by Environmental Health and Public Safety (click here for more information).

Individual consultations are available for those interested in organizing a shelter-in-place drill for their buildings. For questions on the tornado drill or for help organizing a shelter-in-place drill for your building, contact Ron Wright, director of university emergency preparedness and planning, at rdwright@purdue.edu or 765-494-0446.

Additionally, three free tornado awareness workshops will be offered from 9-10 a.m. on April 1, April 7 and April 14 at the Purdue Police Department's conference room in Terry House, 205 S. Martin Jischke Drive. To register, contact Mary Stair at 765-494-1424. Direct questions to Ron Wright or Tom Cooper, tncooper@purdue.edu

Contacts: Ron Wright, 765-494-0446, rdwright@purdue.edu

Tom Cooper, 765-494-1432, tncooper@purdue.edu 

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