Tornado: Safety Procedures

During a tornado warning, stay calm and quickly follow the steps outlined below:

• If indoors, disconnect electrical equipment and appliances. Seek shelter in the lowest level of the building. Take a flashlight with you if you have one handy. Interior hallways or rooms are preferable, away from windows. Auditoriums, cafeterias, and gymnasiums that are covered with a flat wide-span roof are not considered safe and are not recommended as shelter locations. The primary evacuation site in a tornado for both the University and the Clerc Center is the Kellogg Conference Hotel.
• If outdoors, take cover in the nearest ditch or depression, away from power lines, buildings or trees. If you are in a car, do not stay in the car or attempt to outrun the tornado. Pull over and take cover in the nearest ditch or depression away from power lines, buildings or trees.
• After the tornado has passed, evaluate the situation and if emergency help is necessary, contact the Department of Public Safety. Be aware at all times of the dangerous structural conditions around you. Gas leaks and power lines create additional hazards.
• If inside a building, evacuate it using the emergency exits. Move away to a clear or predetermined assembly point. Keep streets and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel.
• Do not return to an evacuated building unless permitted to do so by MPD, D.C. Fire Department personnel, or DPS.