Tornado Warning

Emergency Procedures

When tornado sirens are sounded or communication from the police is relayed to the campus, students and faculty should use their discretion in the safety precautions that are taken. However, the following procedures are recommended:

Building Shelter Locations
Broadway Building
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Basement
Cass Hall
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Room 105 (file/copy room), restrooms or room 106 (conference room); remain away from interior windows
Drago College Store
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Take shelter in restroom or safe room
Garfield Hall
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Take shelter in classroom 104, the storage room or the restrooms.
Garnett Library
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: G102, writing lab East office or cataloging room. Avoid all bookshelves. Stay off of mezzanine.
Gohn Hall
Primary:Student Recreation Center
Grizzly House
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Meeting Room 107 on lower level or first floor hallway (close doors at both ends of hallway)
Kellett Hall
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Basement
Looney Hall
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: First floor restrooms, L101, L102 or L103A.
Lybyer Enhanced Technology Center
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Take cover in any room on the lower level. Stay away from exterior windows.
Melton Hall
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Lower level of north stairwell, M110, M111, East Hallway (avoid glass area on east side), first floor restrooms or any office on east side.
Pennsylvania House
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Basement
Putnam Student Center
Primary: Student Recreation Center
Secondary: Move immediately to restrooms or west wall of cafeteria.
Shannon Hall (Mountain Grove Campus)
Primary: Classroom 107 or any inner room away from outside walls
Secondary: Interior restrooms
Student Recreation Center
Primary: Shelter in place

West Plains Civic Center

Room Precaution
Redbud and
Dogwood rooms
Move to the perimeter walls (hard-surface) within the rooms.
Magnolia room,
University/Community
Programs office
Move to the first floor and go to the Redbud rooms. This is down the stairs, to your left past the theater.
Arena and
exhibit hall
Move to the Redbud and Dogwood rooms. These rooms are located to the east and west of the arena area.
Pool, fitness room,
civic center offices
Move to the locker rooms and/or restrooms.
Athletics Offices Move to the first floor and go to the Dogwood Rooms. These rooms are downstairs and to your left.

When the sirens sound or a tornado warning is relayed from the West Plains Police Department, this means a tornado has actually been sighted. A media announcement of a tornado warning also means a tornado has been sighted. When a tornado warning is issued, the following safety procedures are advised:

  • Proceed to the nearest designated primary shelter area if safe to do so, otherwise proceed to secondary shelter location.
  • Avoid windows and exterior doors.
  • Whenever possible, go to an interior hallway or classroom on the lowest floor.
  • Whenever possible, protect yourself from exterior walls, windows and doors.
  • Stand or sit near the base of a wall and protect yourself from possible falling debris with a table, desk, chair, etc.
  • When walking to shelter, avoid elevators and areas with exterior windows.
  • Avoid auditoriums and gymnasiums or other structures with wide, free-span roofs.
  • Avoid low-lying areas that could flood.
  • Remain in shelter location until you know for sure the warning is over, either by listening to the radio or television station or when warning sirens have stopped.