A list of available campus tornado shelters is now available online.
Visit the shelters page for more information.

Tornado Preparedness
Student Groups and Individuals

The Office of Campus Emergency Planning has prepared guidelines to assist individuals and student groups in preparing for the arrival of tornado season each spring. A document which summarizes these recommendations can be viewed and printed at the following link Tornado Preparedness - Student Groups and Individuals.

Tornado Preparedness Template

One of the most dangerous threats facing the University of Illinois Urbana Campus is the threat of a tornado moving through campus.  Tornadoes have recently struck the University of Illinois at Springfield, Iowa State University, and in east Urbana in 1995 (?).  The need for campus units to have an adequate tornado preparedness plan is obvious.  Following is some general information that units can use to assure that they have adequately addressed tornado safety concern . A template to assist unit in preparing in the event of a tornado is available at the following link, Tornado Preparedness Template on our Templates/Checklists/Policies Web Page.

Champaign, Urbana, Champaign County, and the University of Illinois are prepared to keep a watchful eye on weather conditions and to warn the populace of impending tornadoes.  This will be done by sounding the civil defense sirens, located in strategic positions throughout the campus, for a continuous three-minute unwavering blast.  The sirens will be sounded only if a tornado is actually sighted or if the University is mentioned as being in the path of an approaching tornado. (Tornado warning sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m.) The Division of Public Safety will also receive the warning.

If you are outside when you hear the warning siren, seek inside shelter, in the nearest building.

Once inside a building, go to the interior hallway or other enclosed area that is away from windows and on a lower floor of the building.  Avoid going into auditoriums, gymnasiums, or other large rooms where roof collapse may be likely.  In wooden buildings, such as houses, the least hazardous place is in the basement or under heavy furniture in the center of the building.  Stay away from all windows.

In the event of injuries, give first aid to the best of your ability and notify emergency personnel as soon as possible at 911.

Tornado Warning Guidelines

A tornado warning alert is provided by sirens located throughout the campus.  A continual siren at any time, except for the emergency test conducted the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m., indicates an emergency condition.  It is presumed to be a tornado warning unless notified by officials to the contrary. Tornadoes are unpredictable, therefore, you should avoid exterior windows, walls, and ceilings whenever possible. Caution and common sense by each individual is of utmost importance.  In particular, actions that may cause panic should be avoided. Evacuate any occupied rooms at ground level.  Floors below ground level, hallways, and rooms in the center of a building that are not on the top floor may be used as shelters.  In the event of fire or personal injury, go to the nearest safe telephone to call for help.  After a tornado, do not re-enter damaged buildings.  Be aware of down electrical lines, chemical releases, broken gas lines, and weak building structures.

The decision to activate the sirens will be based upon the following situations:

A funnel cloud or tornado which is threatening the U of I campus has been sighted by, or has been confirmed by, law enforcement or Fire Department personnel.

A tornado has touched down within any of the three jurisdictions.

A report of a radar echo of a tornado threatening the U of I campus has been received from the U.S. Weather Service.

The report of a tornado or funnel cloud threatening the U of I campus has been received from the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency emergency operations center.

The siren-warning signal is intended to advise all who hear it to take cover for a period of 30 minutes.  Should the dangers outline above persist, the warning signal will be repeated every 30 minutes for as long as those conditions continue or as new similar situations develop. The Office of Campus Emergency Planning (Kip Mecum, 333-1491) in addition to the The Division of Safety & Compliance (Alan Otto, 333-9711) is available to assist departments in tornado planning and preparedness.  Often this is a review of the acceptable areas within a building or structure that can be used as a tornado shelter.  Colleges, schools, or departments are responsible to identify a suitable are for a tornado shelter in the event that a tornado warning is issued.  Please notify the Office of Campus Emergency Planning of the designated tornado shelter for your building once that decision is reached. 

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