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In order to keep the campus community safe and orderly should the need arise, each building has a location designated as a shelter or refuge area.

This is the area that you will need to go in the event of a severe weather or tornado warning. Each building and residence hall has signs posted that indicate the location and how to access the refuge area.


Building evacuations
  • All building evacuations will occur when an alarm sounds continuously and/or upon notification by the Campus Police Department. Obvious events that may require evacuations include bomb threats, chemical or radiation spills, and fires. Other situations may arise that justify evacuating buildings. Be knowledgeable of procedures and how to correctly react to building alarms and/or directives from the Campus Police Department.
  • If necessary or directed to do so by the Campus Police Department, activate the building alarms.
  • CAUTION: THE BUILDING ALARM RINGS ONLY IN THE BUILDING. You must also call the Campus Police Department.
  • When the building evacuation alarms are sounded or when told to leave by the Campus Police, walk quickly to the nearest marked exit. Ask others to do the same.
  • ASSIST THE HANDICAPPED IN EXITING THE BUILDING! DO NOT USE ELEVATORS IN CASE OF FIRE.
Once outside
  • Once outside, move to a clear area away from the affected building. Keep streets and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel.
  • If requested, assist the Campus Police Department.
  • A Campus Police Department Emergency Operations Center (EOC) may be set up near the emergency site. Keep clear of the Incident Emergency Operations Center (EOC) unless you have important information to report.
  • DO NOT RETURN TO AN EVACUATED BUILDING unless directed to do so by the Campus Police Department.

Whether you are faculty, staff students or visitors please take time to become familiar with marked exits and routes from your work area. Know the safe refuge areas in the buildings you frequent.


Evacuation instructions, shelter areas and lockdown information by facility

  • ABLES HALL
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate in west grass area to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to rooms with interior walls, as well as restrooms, foyer area by restrooms, and conference room.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors and go to nearest classroom, office, or storage area.
  • BASEBALL FIELDHOUSE
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate on practice football field to account
    for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to rooms with interior doors and with no windows.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and find nearest safe room.

  • COLLEGE SUITES
    Evacuation: Leave apartment and congregate at the east parking lot to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to basement of Harrill-Dobson if time; if not, go to inner room with no windows.
    Lockdown: Lock exterior door and go to inner room.

  • COMMONS HALL
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit, congregate in east parking lot, and account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to first floor interior of building, then to basement area which has an outside entrance located where the east side of the auditorium connects with the south side of the building.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office or storage area.

  • COPEN HALL
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate in parking lot to west in order to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to first floor hall, then to the basement area which has an inside entrance on west side of the building.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office or storage area.

  • CREECH LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
    Evacuation: Evacuate by nearest exit, congregate at Wesley Foundation, and account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to basement level, as well as the office areas.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors.
    • LRC – floors 1 & 2 supply closets;
    • FA, IT, ETC, Admissions – Main Office;
    • President & VP Academics – Break room;
    • Business office – vault;
    • HR– Storage closet.

  • CUNNINGHAM HALL
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate in east grass area to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to the first floor hall, then to the basement area which has an inside entrance on the east side of the building.
    • Overflow occupants can go to the Presidents (Carter) House basement. Entrance is gained by going inside house.

Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office, or storage area.

  • DYER HALL WEST
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate in south parking lot to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to first floor halls, then to the basement area which has an inside entrance at the base of the central staircase.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors and go to nearest classroom, office or storage area.

  • FINE ARTS BUILDING
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit—main lobby, east door, north door, or 2nd floor outer stairwell on south side. Congregate at fountain and account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to first floor north side hall, then to the basement which has an inside entrance at the base of the north east staircase.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office or storage area.

  • FOOTBALL FIELDHOUSE
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate on practice football field to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to rooms with interior walls with no windows.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and find nearest safe room.
    • PRACTICE FIELDS
      Coaches and players go to: The nearest building, if time allows.
      Tornado Shelter: Go to rooms with interior walls with no windows.
      Outdoor cover: Take cover in the nearest ditch or depression, away from power lines, buildings and trees. DO NOT STAY IN A CAR OR ATTEMPT TO OUTRUN A TORNADO!

  • GROVE CENTER
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate in parking lot to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to rooms with interior walls with no windows.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office, or storage room.

  • GYM
    Evacuation: Leave building by nearest exit and congregate at women’s softball field to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to the west or east halls, as well as the ramp area connecting to the SAC, then to the basement which has an outside entrance at the northwest corner of the building.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office or storage area.

  • HEALTH SCIENCE BUILDING
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate in west parking lot to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to main hall, then to the basement which has an outside entrance on the west side of the building.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office, or storage room.

  • KAH NE HALL
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate on the north side of building.
    Tornado Shelter: Kah Ne has two shelters
    • (1) located on the north side of building just inside the Handicap door. The Handicap door is the Second door from the East end of the building.
    • (2) located on the SE side of the building. Entry to the Basement is through the wooden door next to the glass entrance door.

Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office, or storage room.

  • MILLIGAN HALL
    Evacuation: Leave apartment and congregate at the east parking lot to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to basement of Harrill-Dobson if time; if not, go to inner room with no windows.
    Lockdown: Lock exterior door and go to inner room.

  • PHYSICAL PLANT BUILDING
    Evacuation: Leave building by nearest exit and congregate across the street to the north to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to the office areas with interior walls and without windows.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest office or storage room.

  • RESIDENCE HALLS
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit.
    • Dyer Hall—congregate at parking lot to south to account for everyone.
    • Harrill-Dobson—congregate in mall to the north to account for everyone.
    • Russell Hall—congregate in mall to the west to account for everyone.
    • Vann Hall—congregate in mall to the east to account for everyone.

Tornado Shelter: Go to the first floor halls, then to the basement areas which have inside entrances at the bases of the staircases.
Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest room.

  • SCIENCE LAB
    Evacuation: Leave building at nearest exit and congregate in east grass area to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: If you have time go to the Cunningham building basement.
    • Overflow occupants can go to the Presidents (Carter) House Basement. Entrance is gained from inside house.
    • If not, go to main hall and into rooms that have interior walls and away from chemicals.

Lockdown: Lock all exterior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office or storage area.

  • SHIPLEY HALL
    Evacuation: First floor will leave by east exit door, congregate in courtyard, and account for everyone.
    • Second and third floors will exit from the west exit door or south exit door outside of the building, congregate in area to east, and account for everyone.

Tornado Shelter: If you have time go to KAH-NE basement.

  • If not, go to the first floor, then into office safe rooms.
  • Depending on the number of occupants, some people can go to Shipley basement which has an outside entrance at the southeast corner of the building.
  • Basement only accommodates 30 people.

Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest classroom, office, or storage room.

  • STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER
    Evacuation: Leave by nearest exit, congregate at women’s softball field and account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: All patrons, students and employees go to bathrooms or the east hall and ramp area connecting to the main gym.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest safe place—storeroom or closet.

  • STUDENT UNION
    Evacuation: Leave by nearest exit, congregate in east parking lot, and account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Cafeteria—go to the first floor office area by the back loading dock door.
    • Then to the basement located across from the back loading dock door to inside entrances at the base of the stairs.
    • Other areas that can be used are the Bookstore storeroom, Student Government Body offices and the Ballroom.

Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors, and go to nearest safe place—storeroom, closet.

  • SYNAR FARM
    Evacuation: Leave buildings at nearest exit and congregate in area east of NEO Area to account for everyone.
    Tornado Shelter: Go to nearest safe place with no windows.
    Lockdown: Lock all exterior and interior doors and go to nearest safe place.

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