Tornado season approaching IU

With tornado season approaching, out-of-state IU students might be left in the dark about what to do if Bloomington were hit by a severe storm.

Because Indiana is sitting on the edge of what is known as “Tornado Alley,” Midwesterners are generally aware of the dangers of thunderstorms.

While there is no concrete geographical definition, most meteorologists agree “Tornado Alley” is the stretch of flat land between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, where there is a high frequency of tornados.

For students from the coasts or outside the United States, however, the threat of tornados can be understated.

Senior Yeongu Shin has been living in the United States for the last 10 months after moving from South Korea. In the summer months, he said he remembers tornado warnings on the news but never worried about them.

“I wouldn’t know what to do,” Shin said.

Still, he said he is not threatened by the potential threat of tornados. Shin also said he does not think the University needs to take any precautions to protect or warn students about severe weather.

Larry Stephens, IU director of risk management, disagrees. He said he believes tornados present a significant possible crisis.

Stephens recalled two catastrophic tornados in Ellettsville, Ind., less than 10 miles northwest of Bloomington, since 2002.

Combined, the two storms caused more than $10.25 million in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“We are very concerned about them,” Stephens said.

In the last 59 years, 16 tornados were reported in Monroe County, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The two most recent, in May and August of 2004, were both in Bloomington.

In case of a tornado, the risk management office has taken several precautions. There are six outdoor sirens around campus to warn students of severe weather, an emergency alert system conducted through IU-Notify and emergency action plans posted throughout all of IU’s buildings.

Stephens encourages students to visit OneStart and update their personal contact information for IU-Notify.

In an emergency, students who have signed up for IU-Notify will receive critical phone or text messages warning them of the situation.

Ken Long, manager of emergency management at IU, emphasized the importance of emergency action plan awareness. These plans, posted around all IU buildings, provide safety route information in case of severe weather or fire.

“We continually prepare for these kinds of disasters and take an all-hazards approach to emergencies,” Long said.

At first notice of a tornado warning, students should retreat to safety immediately, according to the Office of Risk Management’s Web site. The most secure place for refuge is on the lowest level of a building or home, under solid cover and away from windows and exterior doors. If shelter is not an option, a ground cavity such as a ditch or ravine is the next-best choice.

“When students hear the siren, they should seek shelter,” Stephens said. “Most students don’t do that.”