Severe Weather Emergencies
Snow Emergencies
The most frequent request for winter-time information is: What is the University's policy on closing due to winter storms? After that, several other important rules and information are often requested.
Winter Storm Safety Rules
- Freezing rain, freezing drizzle means a coating of ice is expected.
- Snow means a steady fall; heavy snow means six or more inches expected in the next 12 hours, or eight or more inches in the next 24 hours.
- Blizzard means winds of at least 35 miles per hour and considerable falling or blowing snow, frequently reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile.
Now that you know the definitions, what actions should you take?
Be prepared: Check battery-powered equipment (radio, lights and cooking equipment), food stock (items that do not require cooking or refrigeration), first aid kit, medications and other supplies.
Dress for the season: Layers of protective clothes are more effective and efficient than single layers of thick clothing. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Hoods should cover mouth to protect lungs form extremely cold air.
Be cautious of fire: Overheated stoves, heater, furnaces and fireplaces can cause fires.
Be cautious of shoveling snow: It is extremely hard work and can bring on a heart attack, a major cause of death during and after winter storms.
If a blizzard traps you: Avoid overexertion and exposure, stay in your vehicles (but keep it ventilated), exercise, turn on dome light at night, stand watches and don't panic.
Winter Storm Survival in Your Car
Getting to and from campus during a Minnesota winter can be, shall we say, "challenging?" at times. If you can avoid traveling during winter storms, great. That is the safest policy.
But lets face it. Sometimes you don't have the option, and other times you simply choose to go. Isn't there anything you can do to improve the odds? Maybe.
Listen to forecasts, road reports, and storm warnings. Trust them. Allow extra time for essential trips in severe weather. A few links to weather related sites are provided below for your edification as well.
General Winter Travel Tips
- Think it over before you travel: Simple planning can save you distress and even save your life. We suggest you play "what if." Invent situations and think about how you would cope (it may sound silly, but it might save your life!)
- Make it easy to be found: Tell someone of your route and when to expect you. If stalled, tie a colored banner (from your Winter Safety Kit) on your antenna. Turn on the dome light in darkness. Road crews, helicopters and other rescue units can see a small glow at considerable distances. Keep one person on watch. Don't all rest at the same time.
- Stay in your vehicle: Walking in a storm can be very dangerous. You can lose your way, wander out of reach, become a casualty. Your vehicle itself is a good shelter.
- Avoid Overexertion: Attempting to push your car, trying to jack it into a new position or shoveling heavy drifts take great effort in storm conditions. Tasks which might be simple on a nice spring day can be extremely dangerous in a winter storm. Your dangers: Injury from tools or a slipping vehicle, exhaustion, heart attack, or even death. Take it easy. Don't work so hard you get hot and perspire. Conserve body energy and heat. Wet clothing losses insulation. You'll have to evaporate the perspiration with body heat. Be sure you ventilate your clothing when you work.
- Don't Panic: Calm down and think. The storm will end. You will be found.
- Keep fresh air in your vehicle: Keep a window open just a little, and make sure that the opening stays clear. Freezing-wet or wind-driven snow can change your car from a shelter into a coffin.
- Do not run your engine: An idling engine may use more than a gallon of fuel and hour with the heater going-and it may overheat and die without good air flow through it's radiator. If you do run the engine to heat the car, be certain that the exhaust pipe is clear of snow.
- Keep warm without fuel: Clap your hands. Move your arms and legs to keep circulation going. Exercise at least 10 minutes at a stretch to get these benefits. Change body position. Share body heat.
- Assemble a "Winter Storm Car Kit": Wise motorists will prepare a winter storm car kit, particularly if cross-country travel is anticipated. But don't think that a quick trip up 35E means you don't need to protect yourself. If you go off the road in a storm it could be quite a while before you are rescued. The items in this kit are as helpful a few miles from home as they are on a cross country road trip!
Include the following in your car kit:
- Two or more blankets, sleeping bags, or newspapers if blankets are not available
- Two 1-gallon cans with plastic covers (empty 3 pound coffee cans) to be used for toilet facilities
- Supply of matches and candles or solid fuel in one can
- Extra clothing such as winter caps, mittens, overshoes, face mask, etc.
- Supply of high calorie, non-perishable food, can opener, spoons
- Transistor radio or car radio
- Compass and maps
- Pocket knife
- First Aid Kit. Prescribed medications
- Shovel
- Large box of facial tissues, safety pins
- One small sack of sand
- Flashlight and/or signal light, spare batteries, and colored banner
- Plastic scraper
- Coins for telephone
Other items to be considered:
- Booster cables
- Tow chain (20' or longer)
- Fire extinguisher
- Catalytic heater
- Compact alcohol stove
Heat Emergencies
Heat can be a major concern in Minnesota, especially when it is linked with high humidity (due either to the outside, atmospheric, conditions or to humidity inside of a building).
When the temperature is warm, your body cools itself by producing perspiration. This evaporates into the atmosphere and cools you off. If the humidity is too high, this evaporation cannot take place.
If the body gets too hot, it can experience several medical problems. Heat cramps occur when the body loses too much moisture and electrolytes. Heat exhaustion follows when a person does too much work and does not cool off or replace lost fluids. The victim will be tired, disoriented, and often nauseous. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the body's cooling mechanisms fail and internal temperatures rise. Seizures, vomiting, brain damage, and death can result quickly.
To avoid these problems, reduce the amount of physical activity you perform when it is hot and humid. Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of fluids (water is best). Eat in moderation - a salty snack will help a little, but it needs to be accompanied by fluids.
If you or someone else becomes disoriented due to heat, immediately get out of the hot area. Drink water (unless the person cannot swallow on his or her own). If the person becomes unresponsive or unconscious, call 9-1-1 at once and cool them rapidly with ice and water.
The University has some rooms and buildings which are not air conditioned and during long hot weather spells can become uncomfortable. For these cases, the University has a temperature standard.
Severe Summer Weather
Survival during a tornado or severe summer storm depends on planning, heeding watches and warnings, and taking action.
Planning
Have a personal and family plan: know what you are going to do during severe weather, and where your shelters are located at home, school, shopping centers, etc. Be sure all members of your household are familiar with the plan. Have a portable radio, flashlight, and first aid kit available.
Severe Weather Watch
Means that conditions are right for severe weather to develop rapidly (even if the sky seems clear). You don't need to cancel plans, but watch the skies, and be ready to act if the weather deteriorates.
Severe Weather Warning
Means that the severe weather is happening now! The National Weather Service will sound the sirens in the event of tornado warnings, but not in the event of other severe storms.
Lightning
Lightning kills more people than tornadoes. If you are in an area where lightning is present:
- Get inside a home, building, or non-convertible car.
- Get out of and away from open water.
- Get off and away from motorcycles, golf carts, bicycles, tractors, and equipment.
- If outside, avoid tall, isolated trees or other "natural" lightning rods.
- Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape (on a hill top, open field, golf course, beach, or small boat).
- Stay away from wire fences, clothes lines, metal pipes, or rails.
- If you're hopelessly isolated in an open area, crouch down, with hands on knees. Do not lie flat on the ground.
Action
Evaluate conditions where you are and if strong winds, heavy rain, or large hail are present take shelter immediately. Otherwise listen to radio or TV reports and prepare to take shelter
Taking Shelter on Campus
Inside
Go to the basement, pedestrian tunnel or an inner hallway on a lower floor. Stay away from building entrances and windows. If building is of reinforced construction, stay inside. Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums, (large areas with poorly supported roofs), glass areas, and temporary buildings. Evacuate the top floor. Use the telephone ONLY to report emergencies. Dial 9-1-1 on campus.
Outside
If time does not allow you to get inside, lie flat in the nearest depression, ditch, or ravine. In a home, go to the basement, stay away form windows. Take cover under a sturdy workbench or table (not underneath heavy appliances on the floor above). If no basement, get under heavy furniture in the center of the house. Do not remain in a trailer or mobile home. Seek shelter inside the nearest permanent structure, preferably in a basement, underground excavation, or a steel framed or reinforced concrete building.
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Helpful Links & Info
Weather related links:
National Weather Service (NOAA)
Interactive Weather Information Network
University of Kentucky Agricultural Weather Center
The Weather Channel
The Emergency Procedures Guide is a good campus emergency information desk reference. Download this document for immediate access in the event of an emergency.
Emergency Response Procedures Guide |
