University of Missouri

March 4, 2024
Contact: Hannah Wichern, WichernH@Missouri.edu, 573-882-8353

Missouri is known for its temperamental weather. The spring season brings a variety of severe weather hazards, including lightning, hail, straight line winds, heavy rains, flooding and tornados. To prepare for these weather hazards, the National Weather Service (NWS) and Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) promote severe weather preparedness week each year in March. This year, severe weather preparedness week is March 4 - 8. The statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 6.

The function of emergency management on campus falls under the MU Police Department (MUPD). MU Emergency Management reminds all students, faculty, staff and visitors that during the statewide tornado drill, the National Weather Service will test its emergency alert procedures, Boone County will test the Outdoor Warning Siren (OWS) system, and MU will test its emergency notification system through text message, email, Alertus beacons and the Mizzou Safe app push notification.

During the drill, everyone is encouraged to practice tornado safety by doing the following:

• Seek a shelter that is on the lowest floor and innermost part of a building, preferably away from windows.
• Consider where you would get emergency weather information. An MU Alert will be sent out if a Tornado Warning is issued that includes the main campus. Boone County Ready Alerts allow subscribers to receive all National Weather Service weather warning notifications for their area. Both services are opt-in and free.
• Understand the difference between a warning (imminent threat - act now) and a watch (potential threat - prepare to act).

Throughout Severe Weather Preparedness Week, MU Emergency Management will promote severe weather preparedness education on MUPD's Facebook account. Each day of the week focuses on a different topic; including:

• Monday, March 4: Know how you will receive emergency weather information.
• Tuesday, March 5: Stay safe when lightning is present.
• Wednesday, March 6: Practice the tornado drill.
• Thursday, March 7: Plan for severe weather.
• Friday, March 8: Understand flash flooding.
  

Follow @MizzouPD on Facebook to learn more about severe weather preparedness on campus.

For more information on campus preparedness, or to opt-in for MU Alert, visit the MU Alert webpage.

For more information on general emergency preparedness, or to opt-in to Boone County Ready Alerts, visit the Boone County Ready webpage.