Library Supervisor: Robin Bernstein
Alternate: Joel Hartung
Monitor: Lorraine Patrick
In case of a tornado watch, Safety Department personnel will monitor the progress of this watch. At this time, the Safety Officers will contact Building Supervisors/Alternate, and Monitors, via email of this development. In turn, they will alert students, faculty, and staff in their respective work areas. If a tornado warning is issued, Safety Department personnel will once again contact the Building Supervisors/Alternate, via email and Bellevue University’s Notification system, to proceed to their designated tornado shelters, which are posted. The Building Supervisors/Alternates, with the assistance of the Monitors will ensure that all students, faculty, and staff are alerted and assist them in every way to proceed to these shelters.
Note: Building Supervisors/Alternates, as well as Monitors cannot make a person go to a tornado shelter but can assist in directing students, faculty, and staff to the designated shelter areas.
After a notification of an “all clear” message has been given, Safety and Maintenance personnel will alert all students, faculty, and staff, that the tornado or warning has passed. Building Supervisors/Alternate and Monitors only provide information to them for certain actions. At no time are they the supervisors of any employees during these events, but rather they are there to assist and provide information to students, faculty, and staff.
Tornado Action Plan for the Library:
Although the supervisor, alternate and monitor are responsible for making sure areas are evacuated, we have an additional plan in the library that should help everyone understand what to do in case of a tornado warning.
Reference and Circulation staff members are responsible for evacuating all patrons from all public areas: refreshment area, study tables, computer workstations, group study rooms, and reading areas. The Senior Director, Library Services (or designee) is responsible for evacuating all staff, visitors, etc., from library office areas. On evenings and weekends, all Reference and Circulation staff members are responsible for evacuating all patrons and other staff to the designated tornado shelters. If possible, they should verify that all persons are evacuated from the Learning Commons and Opportunity Campus areas. The designated tornado shelters are classrooms 460 and 480, the bathrooms, and the conference room. All designated tornado shelters are noted by the signs on the doors.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Issued when conditions are right for severe thunderstorms. Be alert for changing conditions.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Issued by the National Weather Service when storms with strong winds, rain, and hail are expected in the area. A severe thunderstorm warning may last for up to one hour.
Tornado Watch
Issued when weather conditions exist that could produce a tornado. A tornado watch may last for several hours. When a tornado watch is issued, all faculty and staff will be alerted through the ANS notification system.
Tornado Warning
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted and is threatening the community. At this time, the Civil Defense Warning Sirens are sounded, and the emergency messages are broadcast by the media. A tornado warning usually lasts for thirty minutes or less. When a tornado warning is issued, all faculty and staff will be alerted through the ANS notification system. Refer to your maps for tornado shelters for your respective buildings.