Students, faculty and staff at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are being asked to practice tornado safety during a statewide drill at 10 a.m. March 25.
The exercise, part of Severe Weather Awareness Week and coordinated by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, will test emergency communications provided no severe weather is occurring or expected. Alerts will be sent through public warning radios, outdoor sirens, indoor voice systems, desktop notifications and UNL Alert, the university’s mass notification system. All messages will clearly indicate that it is a drill.
Officials encourage campus community members to review tornado procedures and locate designated shelters.
As part of the drill, officials remind the campus community about the difference between a tornado watch and a warning. A watch means conditions are favorable and people should review their safety plans, while a warning means a tornado has been sighted or detected by radar and requires immediate shelter.
The drill helps test emergency communication systems and ensures the campus community knows how to respond if a real tornado occurs. Severe Weather Awareness Week runs March 23–27 and promotes preparedness ahead of Nebraska’s peak tornado season. Campus members can find more information online and register for UNL Alert notifications.
Information about tornado procedures and related policies are available online. Register for UNL Alert here.
