Weather
After a severe storm:
- Check for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously
injured persons unless they are in immediate danger
of further injury.
- Report any smoke or fire within buildings to the
Office of Safety and Security at x4350.
- Should major damage have occurred to the campus,
it is most likely that the telephone lines will be
inoperative. If it can be done safely, send a messenger
on foot to the Office of Safety and Security or to
the Maintenance Building.
- The Office of Safety and Security will advise you
as to when and how to initiate restoration efforts.
Floods
- During a cloudburst there is a possibility of flash
flooding.
- If flooding is due to broken lines, plugged lines
or sewer, call Maintenance at x4346 during regular
business hours. After hours, call the Office of Safety
and Security at x4350.
During a Flood
- Stay on higher ground. Avoid areas subject to sudden
flooding.
- Do not walk though moving water. Six (6) inches
of moving water can knock you off your feet and can
move a vehicle.
- Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road as you
could become stranded or trapped.
- If your vehicle stalls while traveling through a
predicted pathway of a flood, abandon it immediately
and seek high ground. Many people have drowned while
trying to rescue their car.
After a Flood
- Do not drink any water from the area until you know
it is safe. The water may be contaminated by oil,
gasoline or raw sewage. The water may also be electrically
charged from underground or downed power lines.
- Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas.
Electrical equipment should be checked and dried thoroughly
before being returned to service.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are classified into the following categories
based on their winds, central pressure and damage potential.
In the event a hurricane warning is given for the entire
geographical area covering PBU, you will be advised
by officials of PBU of all necessary steps to be taken.
Hurricane Watch—a hurricane is possible within
36 hours
Hurricane Warning—a hurricane is expected within
24 hours
Hurricane Categories
Category One: Winds 74-95 mph
Category Two: Winds 96-110 mph
Category Three: Winds 111-130 mph
Category Four: Winds 131-155 mph
Category Five: Winds Greater than 155 mph
During a Hurricane
At this stage your main priority is to remain calm
and out of danger. Outside of your shelter raging winds
are blowing torrential rain and numerous sharp objects.
There is no reason, unless an absolute emergency, that
anyone need to venture outdoors. Local officials have
the authority to close roads, bridges and to initiate
curfews.
After a Hurricane
- Listen to Local Officials as well as Officials of
PBU
- Stay clear of all downed power lines, trees and
debris
- Do not cross flooded roadways
- Stay clear of moving water especially near rivers,
streams and drainage systems
- Use flashlights as emergency light, no candles
Lightening
If you are Outside in a Lightening Storm:
- Avoid the highest objects in the area (tall trees,
hilltops, open spaces, and exposed sheds). If isolated
trees are nearby, crouch down in the open, keeping
twice as far away from the trees as they are tall.
- Stay away from wire fences, metal clothes lines,
railing, telephone or power lines, pipelines or structural
steel fabrication
- Do not be the highest object in an open field or
in a boat
- Keep clear of water. Leave beaches and small boats
- Seek Shelter or Keep Low
- Get off motorcycles, bicycles, farm tractors or
construction equipment
- If you are in an automobile, stay there.
- If you are Inside during a lightening storm, do
not venture outside unless absolutely necessary.·
Stay away from open doors and windows, fireplaces,
radiators, stoves, metal pipes and plug in electrical
appliances.
- Avoid the use of electrical equipment such as televisions,
computers, hair dryers, and electric razors.
- Lightening may strike telephone lines, especially
in rural areas. Do not use your telephone during a
lightening storm unless it is an emergency.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes are local storms of short duration formed
of winds rotating at very high speeds. These small,
severe storms form several thousand feet about the earth's
surface, usually during warm, humid, unsettled weather,
and usually in conjunction with a severe thunderstorm.
As the storm moves, tornadoes may form at intervals
along its path, travel for a few miles and dissipate.
Tornado weather is generally a hot, sticky day with
southerly winds and threatening sky. Tornado clouds
are most often thunderstorm clouds. An hour or two before
a tornado, topsy-turvy greenish-black clouds appear,
which sometimes go down instead of up. Tornado sounds
resemble a deep roar, like a long, fast train or several
large airplanes.
When a tornado watch is announced it means that tornadoes
are expected in or near that area. Callers should keep
their radio or television tuned to a local station for
information and advice. Also, callers should be advised
to keep watching the sky, especially to the south and
southwest.
Tornado Safety Rules
When a tornado approaches, immediate action may mean
the difference between life or death. If you are in
a dorm, apartment, condominium or classroom building,
you should:
- Go to an interior hallway or lower level
- Stay out of stairwells to avoid wind tunnel effect
- Stay away from glass doors and windows
- Stay on the ground floors
- If in your vehicle and you see a tornado, exit your
vehicle and move away form it and take shelter or
get to a low area and lay down
- Take cover under heavy furniture in the center part
of the house. If you are living in a mobile home,
you should leave the trailer for a safer location.
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