[jpelletier]

Hello Dave from Tornado country!
We use our facility’s fire control panel to make announcements, with a script, that directs guests and occupants to our shelter locations in the building. I’ll share that content below.

Part of my morning routine is checking the weather, not only to know what to wear, but also what the meteorologists are looking at for the day. For advance notification, we rely on the county alarms as well as buckeye alerts, which is our campus text/email alert system. Buckeye alerts are used for a variety of notifications, including weather, active threats, etc. We know in advance when those are being tested, so any alerts that come in nudge us into paying attention to what is coming next.

During a tornado warning, we have folks monitoring weather from safe locations so that we can make continued announcements to have guests seek shelter, and to let them know when we are out of the “cone of probability.”

–Jeff

Weather Announcements

–??????? Tornado Warning: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Franklin County. This warning is in effect until (insert time). At this time, we ask that all guests please move to the designated safe areas in the lower level and in the Great Hall Meeting Rooms on the ground floor (if available). Thank you.

–??????? All Clear: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The National Weather Service has issued an all clear for the weather warning. You may now return to your previous locations. Thank you.

–??????? Tornado Drill: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The Ohio Union is conducting a tornado drill at this time. Please proceed to the ground floor and lower level for severe weather shelter. Staff will direct you to the nearest available shelter space. Please stay in this area until given the all clear. Thank you.

–??????? Tornado Drill All Clear: The tornado drill is now complete. You may now return to your previous locations. Thank you for your cooperation.

——————————
Jeff Pelletier, MA, MBOE, LSSBB
Ohio Union Director
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
614-292-3290
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 10:49
From: Dave Timmann
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Good morning ACUI, we don’t receive many tornado warnings, but we recently had a campus alert. Upon the event’s conclusion, we realized we don’t have a protocol for tornados, hurricanes yes, but not the swirling winds. I’d be interested in hearing from those with experience, what do you do in your buildings when an alarm sounds. Thank you.

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————

[Dave Timmann]

Thank you Jeff!! What constitutes a safe area?

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 11:09
From: Jeff Pelletier
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Hello Dave from Tornado country!
We use our facility’s fire control panel to make announcements, with a script, that directs guests and occupants to our shelter locations in the building. I’ll share that content below.

Part of my morning routine is checking the weather, not only to know what to wear, but also what the meteorologists are looking at for the day. For advance notification, we rely on the county alarms as well as buckeye alerts, which is our campus text/email alert system. Buckeye alerts are used for a variety of notifications, including weather, active threats, etc. We know in advance when those are being tested, so any alerts that come in nudge us into paying attention to what is coming next.

During a tornado warning, we have folks monitoring weather from safe locations so that we can make continued announcements to have guests seek shelter, and to let them know when we are out of the “cone of probability.”

–Jeff

Weather Announcements

–        Tornado Warning: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Franklin County. This warning is in effect until (insert time). At this time, we ask that all guests please move to the designated safe areas in the lower level and in the Great Hall Meeting Rooms on the ground floor (if available). Thank you.

–        All Clear: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The National Weather Service has issued an all clear for the weather warning. You may now return to your previous locations. Thank you.

–        Tornado Drill: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The Ohio Union is conducting a tornado drill at this time. Please proceed to the ground floor and lower level for severe weather shelter. Staff will direct you to the nearest available shelter space. Please stay in this area until given the all clear. Thank you.

–        Tornado Drill All Clear: The tornado drill is now complete. You may now return to your previous locations. Thank you for your cooperation.

——————————
Jeff Pelletier, MA, MBOE, LSSBB
Ohio Union Director
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
614-292-3290
——————————

Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 10:49
From: Dave Timmann
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Good morning ACUI, we don’t receive many tornado warnings, but we recently had a campus alert. Upon the event’s conclusion, we realized we don’t have a protocol for tornados, hurricanes yes, but not the swirling winds. I’d be interested in hearing from those with experience, what do you do in your buildings when an alarm sounds. Thank you.

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————

[jpelletier]

Sorry I should have included that!

Generally speaking, safe areas are interior spaces on a low floor without windows. For us, it is our conference theater, a larger multipurpose room on the interior, our tavern, which is also a large interior space, and our lower level (basement).?

——————————
Jeff Pelletier, MA, MBOE, LSSBB
Ohio Union Director
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
614-292-3290
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 11:17
From: Dave Timmann
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Thank you Jeff!! What constitutes a safe area?

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————

Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 11:09
From: Jeff Pelletier
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Hello Dave from Tornado country!
We use our facility’s fire control panel to make announcements, with a script, that directs guests and occupants to our shelter locations in the building. I’ll share that content below.

Part of my morning routine is checking the weather, not only to know what to wear, but also what the meteorologists are looking at for the day. For advance notification, we rely on the county alarms as well as buckeye alerts, which is our campus text/email alert system. Buckeye alerts are used for a variety of notifications, including weather, active threats, etc. We know in advance when those are being tested, so any alerts that come in nudge us into paying attention to what is coming next.

During a tornado warning, we have folks monitoring weather from safe locations so that we can make continued announcements to have guests seek shelter, and to let them know when we are out of the “cone of probability.”

–Jeff

Weather Announcements

–        Tornado Warning: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Franklin County. This warning is in effect until (insert time). At this time, we ask that all guests please move to the designated safe areas in the lower level and in the Great Hall Meeting Rooms on the ground floor (if available). Thank you.

–        All Clear: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The National Weather Service has issued an all clear for the weather warning. You may now return to your previous locations. Thank you.

–        Tornado Drill: MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The Ohio Union is conducting a tornado drill at this time. Please proceed to the ground floor and lower level for severe weather shelter. Staff will direct you to the nearest available shelter space. Please stay in this area until given the all clear. Thank you.

–        Tornado Drill All Clear: The tornado drill is now complete. You may now return to your previous locations. Thank you for your cooperation.

——————————
Jeff Pelletier, MA, MBOE, LSSBB
Ohio Union Director
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
614-292-3290

Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 10:49
From: Dave Timmann
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Good morning ACUI, we don’t receive many tornado warnings, but we recently had a campus alert. Upon the event’s conclusion, we realized we don’t have a protocol for tornados, hurricanes yes, but not the swirling winds. I’d be interested in hearing from those with experience, what do you do in your buildings when an alarm sounds. Thank you.

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————

[Deanna Cahoon-Draus]

Hi Dave,

My union’s response (attached) is pretty similar to Jeff’s. Typically we don’t have to do the initial firebox warnings anymore because the campus or community alarms will go off first (with the same wordage). But if they don’t go off, the Building Manager will announce it over the firebox. Like Jeff, I watch the weather throughout the week, but then Building Managers have?GR Level 3 Radar on their computer to watch out for weather as well.

We also have the firebox announcements inside of the firebox so that it’s easier for folx to find when it’s already a stressful time

——————————
Deanna Cahoon-Draus
University Center Programs Specialist
University of Wisconsin River Falls
River Falls, WI
(715) 425-3986
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 10:49
From: Dave Timmann
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Good morning ACUI, we don’t receive many tornado warnings, but we recently had a campus alert. Upon the event’s conclusion, we realized we don’t have a protocol for tornados, hurricanes yes, but not the swirling winds. I’d be interested in hearing from those with experience, what do you do in your buildings when an alarm sounds. Thank you.

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————

Severe Weatherb (1).docx 22 KB Word Document - Click to view

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[Dave Timmann]

Thank you Deanna.

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-18-2024 09:08
From: Deanna Cahoon-Draus
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Hi Dave,

My union’s response (attached) is pretty similar to Jeff’s. Typically we don’t have to do the initial firebox warnings anymore because the campus or community alarms will go off first (with the same wordage). But if they don’t go off, the Building Manager will announce it over the firebox. Like Jeff, I watch the weather throughout the week, but then Building Managers have GR Level 3 Radar on their computer to watch out for weather as well.

We also have the firebox announcements inside of the firebox so that it’s easier for folx to find when it’s already a stressful time

——————————
Deanna Cahoon-Draus
University Center Programs Specialist
University of Wisconsin River Falls
River Falls, WI
(715) 425-3986
——————————

Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 10:49
From: Dave Timmann
Subject: Tornado Protocol

Good morning ACUI, we don’t receive many tornado warnings, but we recently had a campus alert. Upon the event’s conclusion, we realized we don’t have a protocol for tornados, hurricanes yes, but not the swirling winds. I’d be interested in hearing from those with experience, what do you do in your buildings when an alarm sounds. Thank you.

——————————
Dave Timmann
Associate Director for Operations, Marshall Student Center
University of South Florida
Tampa FL
(813) 974-0042
——————————