In 2008, tornadoes killed more people in Tennessee than anywhere else in the United States. Community awareness and preparedness can be crucial in how well people weather a disaster.
Vanderbilt University is helping keep safe the thousands of people who live, work, learn or receive health care on the campus by being the first and only university in Tennessee to become certified as “StormReady” by the National Weather Service (NWS). This is the second time Vanderbilt has achieved this recognition since 2006 (Communities re-apply every three years for the designation).
“Hundreds of people can be affected when a community is caught by a ‘surprise’ severe weather event. Damage and injuries can be avoided if individuals are informed and prepared for hazardous situations,” says Johnny Vanderpool, senior safety officer at Vanderbilt. “The StormReady designation just recognized the effort we put into preparing for emergencies and keeping our campus safe during severe weather events.”
StormReady communities, like Vanderbilt, implement procedures to reduce the potential for disastrous weather-related consequences. They must meet the following guidelines established by the NWS in partnership with federal, state, and local emergency management professionals:
Incorporate your community’s severe weather threats into your community’s hazard mitigation and emergency response plans
Vanderbilt University has Emergency Guides for severe weather, lightning and tornados. These guides have been incorporated into the VU Emergency Management Plan. Everyone is encouraged to review the guides on the VU Emergency Preparedness website at http://emergency.vanderbilt.edu.
Establish a 24-hour Warning Point and Emergency Operations Center
Vanderbilt University Police Department operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Establish multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public
Vanderbilt University has outdoor warning sirens; AlertVU, an emergency notification system; e-mail distribution systems; and the ability to communicate emergencies through various websites.
Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally
Vanderbilt University subscribes to WeatherData, a monitoring service that specifically issues information and warnings for the campus.
Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars, severe weather spotter training and by conducting emergency exercises
Vanderbilt University regularly hosts NWS weather-spotting seminars, emergency training programs and Severe Weather Awareness month each February.
For more information, visit the National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov or the StormReady website at www.stormready.noaa.gov.
Media Contact: Missy Pankake, (615) 322-NEWS
missy.pankake@vanderbilt.edu