PREPARATION FOR SEVERE WEATHER
Strong thunderstorms and tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, but are most common in the United States. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide. An average of 80 deaths and more than 1,500 people are reported injured in the U.S. every year. A tornado is defined as a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of widespread destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3PM and 9 PM, but have occurred during all hours of the day and night. The "average" tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes can move in any direction. The average forward speed for a tornado is 30 mph, but can vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph. Please be aware of the following types of severe weather advisories issued by the National Weather Service:
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
Severe thunderstorms are possible in your area. Thunderstorms are defined as severe if they produce winds in excess of 58 mph, and/or produce hail ¾ of an inch in diameter or larger.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
Severe thunderstorms are occurring, or imminent. Keep in mind that tornadoes occasionally develop in areas where severe thunderstorm watches or warnings are in effect. Remain alert to signs of an approaching tornado and seek shelter if threatening conditions exist.
A TORNADO WATCH
Tornadoes are possible in the area. Remain alert for approaching storms. Be prepared to move to a safe location.
A TORNADO WARNING
A tornado has been sighted, or is imminent. If a tornado warning has been issued for your area, move to your pre-designated place of safety. If you are on campus when a tornado warning has been issued, you should move to the lower level of whatever building you are in. DO NOT go outside to check the weather. If an underground area is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor. Crouch down against a wall or get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Auditoriums, gymnasiums, and other structures with high, wide-span roofs do not offer good protection. Stay away from windows and exterior doors. If you are outdoors, DO NOT attempt to outrun a tornado in a bus, truck, or car; instead, abandon it for a strong building. If you are on the road, remember that overpasses offer little protection from tornadoes and should not be used as shelters. If caught in the open, take cover in a ditch or low spot. Remember, this will not provide the same protection as a sturdy building. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible. Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado. FLYING DEBRIS FROM TORNADOES CAUSES MOST DEATHS AND INJURIES. (SOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE) If stormy weather, listen to your radio and/or television station for weather service reports. Area radio stations include (not an all inclusive list):
| RADIO STATIONS | LOCAL IOWA TELEVISION STATIONS |
|---|---|
| KGRN, 1410 AM, Grinnell | Channel 5 WOI |
| KCOB, 1280 AM, Newton | Channel 8 KCCI |
| KFJB, 1230 AM, Marshalltown | Channel 9 KWWL |
| WHO, 1040 AM, Des Moines | Channel 13 WHO |
| KRNT, 1350 AM, Des Moines | |
| KCJJ, 1560 AM, Iowa City | |
| The FOX, 100.7 AM, Iowa City |
For your convenience, several news stations offer an email weather notification service. As a subscriber to these free services, you will receive automatic notices whenever weather developments occur in your area. To review the benefits of these services and to subscribe, click on one of the following: WHO Weather; KCCI Weather. Below is a list of other helpful web sites with information about severe weather, lightning, thunderstorms, hail, high winds and driving safety: National Weather Service; Iowa Department of Transportation; State of Iowa Weather; Weather Driving Safety Tips. If the storm increases in intensity, listen to your radio (portable transistor is best). The Weather Service will report if this area is under a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch. A watch means that conditions exist that a severe storm or tornado are possible. A warning means that a severe storm or tornado has been sighted. If a warning is issued for Grinnell and Poweshiek County, seek appropriate shelter as noted below. If a tornado is sighted in the area, warning sirens will sound. The sirens will make a long, continuous, loud sound. When you hear it during a storm, do not hesitate. Take shelter immediately. (Note: The sirens are tested at 9:00 a.m. each Thursday).
DURING A TORNADO WARNING
- Go to the lowest floor of any building you are in, such as a basement or dormitory pit. Go to interior spaces or rooms that face east, preferably north and East. (Rooms facing north and east are usually safer than those that face south and west.)
- Get into a room or area without windows. If this is not possible, stay away from the windows or exterior walls. Get behind/under a heavy piece of furniture or object to protect against flying debris.
- Avoid corridors, particularly those facing west or south. If you have to take shelter in one try to stay away from the glass areas.
Avoid any building with a long-span flat roof or large open spaces in its interior if possible. If in a car and there is a tornado warning, get out of the car and seek shelter in the lowest level of a nearby building. If there is not enough time, lie flat in a ditch or other depression off the roadway. Don't call the College switchboard, Facilities Management, Security Department, or the City Police or Fire during a tornado warning period unless there is a clear emergency. These lines should be kept open for emergency purposes only.
Severe Weather Campus Locations for Grinnell College Buildings
| Building Address | Where to go in building | Access to basement |
|---|---|---|
| 733 Broad Street (Old Glove Factory) | Accounting Office-lowest level file room Human Resources Office-file room and lowest level restrooms |
Internal |
| 1102 Broad Street (Senior Faculty House) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1510 Broad Street (Ricker House) | Basement | Internal |
| Conrad Environmental Research Area (CERA) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1432 East Street (Campus Safety and Security) | Basement | Internal |
| 1115 Eighth Avenue (Joe Rosenfield Center ‘25) | Basement | Internal |
| 1116 Eighth Avenue (Noyce Science Center) | Lowest level rooms away from exterior windows | Internal |
| 823 Fourth Avenue (Pioneer Bookshop-downtown) | Basement | Internal |
| 1011 Park Street (Grinnell House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1022 Park Street (Grinnell College Preschool) | First floor safe room | Internal |
| 1026 Park Street (Windsor House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1103 Park Street (John Chrystal Center) | Basement | Internal |
| 1108 Park Street (Bucksbaum Center for the Arts) | Lowest level hallways | Internal |
| 1118 Park Street (Goodnow Hall) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1120 Park Street (Steiner Hall) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1121 Park Street (Nollen House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1127 Park Street (Career Development Office) | Lowest level near structural support | External |
| 1128 Park Street (Herrick Chapel) | Basement | Internal |
| 1131 Park Street (Harry Hopkins House) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1205 Park Street (Jesse Macy House) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal
|
| 1210 Park Street (Carnegie Hall) | Go to the first floor corridor of ARH, away from windows | Internal |
| 1210 Park Street (College Bookstore) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1226 Park Street (Alumni Recitation Hall) | Go to first floor corridor, away from windows | Internal |
| 1233 Park Street (Chaplain Office-CRSSJ Building) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1303 Park Street (Faculty House) | South lowest level room | Internal |
| 1321 Park Street (Reading Lab) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1111 Sixth Avenue (Burling Library) | Lowest level near central stairs and elevator shaft | Internal |
| 1119 Sixth Avenue (Forum Building) | Lowest level need solid structural walls and away from exterior rooms with large windows | Internal |
| 1119 Sixth Avenue (Student Health and Counseling Services) | Lowest level need solid structural walls and away from exterior rooms with large windows | Internal |
| 1213 Sixth Avenue (Mears Cottage) | Basement | Internal |
| 1917 Sixth Avenue (Facilities Management) | Office file room, interior rooms, and restroom areas | Internal |
| 1114 Tenth Avenue (Harris Center) | Interior bathrooms and storage areas behind Concert Hall, and Cinema away from front stage area | Internal |
| 1201 Tenth Avenue (Bear Recreation and Athletic Center) | Basement level, away from exterior windows | Internal |
| 1203 Tenth Avenue (Grant O. Gale Observatory) | First floor interior area | Internal |
Residence Halls and Student Houses
Go to the lowest level.
| Building Address | Where to go in building | Access to basement |
|---|---|---|
| 1128 East Street (Food House) | Basement, room key will open | External |
| 1130 East Street (Eco House) | Basement open | Internal |
| 1019 Park Street (French House) | Basement room key will open | External |
| 1023 Park Street (Dagohir/DAG House) | Basement open | Internal |
| 1217 Park Street (Russian House) | Basement, room key will open | External |
| 1221 Park Street (German House) | Basement, room key will open | External |
| 1227 Park Street (Chinese House) | Basement, room key will open | External |
| 1316 Park Street (Spanish House) | Lowest level near interior structural supports | Internal |
| 1003 Tenth Avenue (Student, Black Cultural Center) | Basement | Internal |
| Clark Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Cleveland Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Cowles Hall | Go to Dibble Laundry Room | |
| Dibble Annex | Go to Dibble Laundry Room | |
| Dibble Hall | Laundry Room | Internal |
| Gates Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Haines Hall | Basement | Internal |
| James Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Kershaw Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Langan Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Lazier Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Loose Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Main Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Norris Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Rathje Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Rawson Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Read Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Rose Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Smith Annex | Go to Smith Hall basement | Internal |
| Smith Hall | Basement | Internal |
| Younker Hall | Basement | Internal |
Severe Weather Location for Grinnell College Rental & Guest Houses
| Building or Address | Where to go in building | Access to basement |
|---|---|---|
| 1002 Park East Apartment (Guest Apartment) | Basement | External (apt. key will open) |
| 1002 Park West Apartment (Guest Apartment) | Basement | Internal |
| 1008 Park (Guest House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1405 Park 1st Floor (Guest Apartment) | Basement | Internal |
| 1405 Park 2nd Floor (Guest Apartment) | Basement | Internal |
| 1409 Park 1st Floor (Guest Apartment) | Basement | Internal |
| 1409 Park 2nd Floor (Guest Apartment) | 2nd floor hallway | Internal |
| 913 7th Ave. (Guest House) | Basement | Internal |
| 916 7th Ave. (Guest House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1030 High (Rental Apartment) | Basement | Internal |
| 1032 High (Rental Apartment) | Basement | Internal |
| 1134 East (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1204 East (Rental House) | 1st floor hallway | Internal |
| 1208 East (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1318 East (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1322 East (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1212 6th Ave. (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
| 1224 6th Ave. (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
| 909 8th Ave. (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
| 913 8th Ave. (Rental House) | Basement | Internal |
Damage Assessment
Campus members should report any damage to the campus to the Campus Safety and Security Department. Damage assessment will be done by Campus Safety and Security and Facilities Management (FM). Campus Safety & Security shall report damage assessment information to the campus Communications Office and to the Executive Advisory Group.
Recovery
Facilities Management will be in charge of restoring the campus to normal operations if damage has occurred on the campus.
Notes
It should be noted that the Campus Safety and Security Department will generally respond to Severe Weather as stated in this document. However, there may be times when notification cannot be made in the manner described in this document. Campus members should be aware of this and use radio, television and internet methods of tracking severe weather when they suspect that bad weather is coming. Campus members should also be aware of locations within their buildings and areas to move to in case of severe weather.
