Inclement Weather Plan

The Emergency Management Team (EMT) has prepared the following emergency weather preparation guidelines for students, faculty and staff:

Preparations before a major storm:

Have flashlights and fresh batteries ready. Remember no candles are permitted in the residence halls.
Obtain a battery operated radio. Tune to station WRVA-1140 AM for the latest information on the storm's progress.
Collect some bottled water and non-perishable food.
Make sure your cell phones, laptop computers and other electronic devices are fully charged.
If you live in the apartments, bring any patio furniture and other outdoor accessories inside so that they do not blow into glass doors and windows.

During a storm:

Stay in your residence hall. Do not go outside. Downed electrical lines, flying debris, and flash flooding can be life-threatening.
Keep away from windows, glass doors and skylights. Breaking glass can cause severe injuries.
Keep your blinds and/or curtains drawn and your windows tightly shut.
Follow directions from your RAs and University employees.
Use your flashlights. DO NOT USE OPEN FLAMES such as candles or kerosene lamps.
The Student Health Center will remain open overnight during a storm for emergency cases only. If an injury of a life-threatening nature should occur, call 911 immediately. Routine health questions and concerns should await regular office hours.

If a tornado watch is announced:

Remain calm and stay inside.
A "watch" indicates that conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado in the area and a "warning" indicates that a tornado is imminent or has touched down in the area. If a tornado watch is announced for the Greater Richmond region or nearby counties pay careful attention to radio, TV or Internet reports in case it is upgraded to a warning. If the power is out, listen to your battery-operated radios and heed the advice of your RAs. The university's official source of information is the emergency hotline: (804) 289-8760.

If a tornado warning is announced:

A "warning" indicates that a tornado has actually been sighted by spotters or indicated on radar and is occurring or imminent in the warning area.

If inside during a tornado warning:

Seek immediate shelter.
Go to a basement or lowest level of the building.
If there is no basement, go to an interior hallway away from exterior windows.
Close all doors to rooms with exterior windows.
Stay away from all windows and other glassed areas.
Use arms to protect head and neck.
Avoid Auditoriums and Gymnasiums or other structures with wide, free-span roofs.

If outdoors during a tornado warning:

In case of a power outage on campus:

Both the Heilman Dining Center and the Tyler Haynes Commons have emergency generators and are available for student use during a power outage. If the power outage is due to a storm, students should wait until it is safe to travel on campus before going to these facilities.

Protect your computer and other electronics:

Unplug all expensive electronics, computers, and peripherals to protect them from damage due to power surges.
Move your electronic equipment and computers to a protected location in your room or office away from a window and cover them with plastic. Lower window blinds to deter possible broken glass.