April has definitely been a stormy month in Middle Tennessee. The National Weather Service has issued a number of watches and warnings, and probably will continue to do so throughout the month. So, this is a good time to review your personal plans for what to do if we experience severe weather at Vanderbilt.
Actions to take in a weather emergency
If you hear the warning sirens or receive AlertVU notices, warn others around you of the severe weather conditions, and:
- Seek shelter inside the closest building
- Move away from windows, lobbies and door to the most interior portion of the building or area of best refuge.
- Assist special-needs persons
- Monitor TV, radio and the Vanderbilt home page for additional information.
Campus emergency notification system
To sign up for AlertVU, the campus emergency notification system, visit the AlertVU website. AlertVU rapidly sends messages to the delivery points a subscriber chooses—cell phone (voice or text), land line or e-mail account. If you are already signed up for AlertVU, be sure to check your account and make sure that all your contact phone numbers and emails are correct and up-to-date.
Vanderbilt outdoor warning sirens v. Metro Nashville warning sirens
Vanderbilt University has contracted with a commercial weather monitoring company to warn us about any severe weather that approaches the Vanderbilt campus. If tornadic weather is within 15 minutes of reaching campus, the Vanderbilt sirens will sound for 3 minutes, rest for two, then resound. The lack of the siren blowing does not mean the weather has been cleared. Also, this weather warning is specific for Vanderbilt and is not a general Nashville alert. The Metro Nashville warning sirens are activated for any warning anywhere in Davidson County – which is quite large. Click here to listen to a sample of the Vanderbilt siren.
To watch a slide show about what to do during a tornado warning and to learn more about preparing for severe weather, visit the Emergency Preparedness and Planning Web site at http://emergency.vanderbilt.edu/.
Tornadoes happen quickly, often with little or no warning. Advance planning and preparations could save your life.
Contact: Johnny Vanderpool, Senior Safety Officer
(615) 343-4804
Johnny.vanderpool@vanderbilt.edu