Whether you are facing severe storms, extreme heat, floods, hail, or lightning, it’s crucial to be prepared and informed. Discover essential tips and precautions to protect yourself and your property during these challenging weather events.
Severe Weather and Natural Disasters
Severe Storms and Natural Disasters
Tornadoes and Thunderstorms
In Oklahoma, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are a possibility. It is important that you are prepared for a storm.
Watches and warnings
Tornado watch – indicates that weather conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and near the watch area. Watch areas are typically large and cover multiple counties or even states.
Tornado warning – means that a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted or there are radar indications that a tornado is likely. Go to the closest storm shelter immediately.
Severe thunderstorm watch – indicates that weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in or near the watch area.
Severe thunderstorm warning – indicates that a thunderstorm in the vicinity may include strong winds and large hail.
Step 1
When severe weather is forecast:
- Watch local weather for storm warnings and read TU text message alerts. If you haven’t subscribed to TU’s emergency text system, sign up here.
- Add TU Campus Security to your contacts list: 918-631-5555.
- Prepare to take cover.
- Gather emergency bag:
- Cell phone with portable charger
- Flashlight
- Water
- Snacks
- Medications
Step 2
When a tornado warning has been issued:
- Stay indoors and stay away from windows, doors, and exterior walls.
- Do not attempt to outrun a storm or tornado.
- Turn off and disconnect electrical equipment from the power source, if possible.
- If you are on the TU campus, including TU apartments:
- Go to the assigned severe storm shelter area or an interior hallway on a lower level in the building where you are.
- Close office and hallway doors to minimize the risk of injury from flying debris.
- If you are not on the TU campus:
- Go to the designated storm shelter or to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor of the building, away from doors and windows.
- Cover yourself with a mattress, blankets, or piece of furniture.
- If you are in a vehicle:
- Go to the nearest shelter or building.
If you are unable to go to a marked storm shelter, go to an interior room or hallway with no windows or glass walls on the lowest level of the building. Rooms without an exterior wall are preferred. Avoid rooms with high or vaulted ceilings.
Step 3
After the storm has passed and the tornado warning has expired:
- Contact family and friends to let them know of your status. Text messages and social media will be more reliable than phone calls.
- Leave the storm shelter and be aware of broken glass. Avoid downed power lines. Call 911 if you smell gas.
- Call Campus Security at 918-631-5555 or 911 if you are trapped.
TU storm shelters: Know where to go
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Academic & Administrative Buildings
Building Name Physical Address Storm Shelter/Severe Weather Area 5th Place House 3126 E. 5th Pl. Basement Alexander Health Center / Hurricane Health 2946 E. 5th St. Exam Room 2 (building not unlocked after hours) Allen Chapman Student Union 3135 E. 5th Pl. First floor restrooms, kitchen prep area and pantry, dishwashing room, mail room, interior Sodexo offices, if needed all lower stairwell areas Boesche Legal Clinic 407 S. Florence Ave. Faculty work room 1101, Interview room, restrooms (building not unlocked after hours – go to Law School) Case Athletic Complex 3150 E. 8th St. South side of first floor, locker rooms Chapman Hall 2830 E. 5th St. Lower level interior hall, lower level floor rest rooms; Lecture Hall Collins Administration Hall 2905 E. 8th St. First floor restrooms; area outside of first floor restrooms (away from lobby); interior hallways in east end of admission suite with office doors closed Collins Fitness Center 502 S. Delaware Ave. Men’s and women’s locker rooms first floor Collins Softball Complex/Clubhouse No storm shelter in building; use Case Tennis Center or restrooms outside of Case Tennis Center Donald W. Reynolds Center 3208 E. 8th St. Arena level outer hallways and rooms Fisher East 2821 E. 8th St. First floor interior hall; first floor suites and restrooms with room doors closed Fisher West Suites 2821 E. 8th St. First floor interior halls with room doors closed; first floor suites with room doors closed H.A. Chapman Stadium 3112 E. 8th St. Stadium locker rooms or Donald W. Reynolds Center lowest level outer hallways and rooms Hardesty Hall / Holmes Student Center 3105 E. 5th Pl. First floor rest rooms and first floor interior hallways; basement of residence hall side of building Harwell Hall 615 S. Florence Ave. First floor women’s rest room; McFarlin Library, Oliphant & Kendall Halls are options, if time allows (building not unlocked after hours) Helmerich Hall 2900 E. 5th St. Room 111; Room 125; Storage room 126; under stairs room 112C; HELM 118-interior hallways with office doors closed Hurricane Athletic Admin/Mabee Gym/Music Annex 3105 E. 8th St Interior hallway by rowing center, music hallway and library, restrooms Hurricane Athletic Building / Security 3115 E. 8th St. First floor interior hall with doors closed (by rowing center) Kendall Hall 601 S. College Ave. Green room, other basement rooms and halls Keplinger Hall 430 S. Gary Pl. Lower level – interior halls, away from glass partitions with office/lab/hall doors shut; rest rooms College of Law/Mabee Legal Clinic 3120 E. 4th Pl. Lower level – Hallway near elevator lobby and restrooms (1202,1203); Hallway and rooms 1003 & 1004; East hallway and restrooms (1412, 1413); Hallway near law review offices and restrooms (1314, 1316); Main floor – inner hallways by faculty offices with doors closed (overflow areas for classes) Lorton Hall 2820 E. 6th St. Main hallway lower level with the east and west doors closed; interior hallway in suite 102 Lorton Performance Center 500 S. Gary Pl. Lower level away from glass in lobby area; Ground floor restrooms Mary K. Chapman Center 2820 E. 5th St Basement classrooms, rest rooms McClure Hall 2905 E. 7th St. Room 105 and 106 with office doors closed, rest rooms (Building not unlocked after hours) McFarlin Library 2933 E. 6th St. Main level between Reserve and Media Services in the 1926 section, corner stairwells and any interior rooms in lowest level of 1979 portion of building (stacks), restrooms on plaza, main, and lower levels Michael D. Case Tennis Center 712 S. Delaware Ave. Locker rooms, central core area on First floor Oliphant Hall 3015 E. 7th St. First floor east to west hall with doors on each end closed Phillips Hall 2930 E. 5th St. Lower level interior hall, student lounge, interior rooms on lower level Physical Plant 3015 E. 8th St. Interior offices in administrative area and rest rooms Rayzor Hall 3155 E. 5th Pl. First floor interior hallways and rest rooms Sharp Chapel 2940 E. 6th St. Rest rooms, kitchen, pantry, south lower stairwell, Kendall Hall (preferred) Stephenson Hall 3205 E. 5th Pl. First floor interior hallways and rest rooms Tyrrell Hall 2930 E. 6th St. West end basement interior hall with hall and room doors closed University School 326 S. College Ave. Designated severe weather shelter – West Wing room 102 (building not unlocked after hours) Westby Hall 710 S. College Ave. Northeast corner lower level, south interior offices with doors shut, room 108, 109, and 127, lower level rest rooms (building not unlocked after hours) Zink Hall 3101 E. 7th St. First floor elevator lobby, first floor offices without windows, restrooms -
Campus Housing Buildings
Building Name Physical Address Storm Shelter/Severe Weather Area Residence Halls Fisher West Suites 2821 E. 8th St. First floor interior hall; first floor suites and restrooms with room doors closed Hardesty Hall 3105 E. 5th Pl. Storm shelter in basement level John Mabee Residence Hall 2807 E. 5th Pl. Basement game room, basement interior hall away from windows LaFortune Residence Hall 3202 E. 7th St. Suites 102, 104, 105, 106, 107 with room doors closed; first floor suite restrooms with doors closed; lobby restroom Lottie Jane Mabee Residence Hall 2808 E. 6th St. Basement kitchen, meeting room, basement interior hall away from windows Fraternities and Sororities Fraternity-Kappa Alpha 3145 E. 7th St. Ground floor hallway with room doors closed Fraternity-Kappa Sigma 3131 E. 7th St. Ground floor hallway with room doors closed Fraternity-Lambda Chi Alpha 3201 E. 7th St. Ground floor hallway with room doors closed Fraternity-Pi Kappa Alpha 3123 E. 7th St. Ground floor hallway with room doors closed Fraternity-Sigma Chi 3223 E. 7th St. Ground floor hallway with room doors closed Fraternity Sigma NU 3211 E. 7th St. Ground floor hallway with room doors closed Sorority-Chi Omega 3100 E. 5th Pl. Bedroom side – First floor interior halls and hall suites, with room doors closed Sorority-Delta Delta Delta 3112 E. 5th Pl. Bedroom side – First floor interior halls and hall suites, with room doors closed Sorority-Delta Gamma 3150 E. 5th Pl. Bedroom side – First floor interior halls and hall suites, with room doors closed Sorority-Kappa Alpha Theta 3120 E. 5th Pl. Bedroom side – First floor interior halls and hall suites, with room doors closed Sorority-Kappa Delta 3134 E. 5th Pl. Bedroom side – First floor interior halls and hall suites, with room doors closed Sorority-Kappa Kappa Gamma 3146 E. 5th Pl. Bedroom side – First floor interior halls and hall suites, with room doors closed Campus Apartments Brown Village 3201, 3202, 3206, 3207, 3210 4th Pl. First floor: walk-in closets, bathrooms, laundry room; and Keplinger Hall designated areas Lorton Village 3002, 3006, 3010, 3014, 3018, 3022, 3026 E. 8th St. First floor: walk-in closets, bathrooms, laundry room; and LaFortune Residence Hall, Chapman Stadium and Case Athletic Complex designated areas Mayo Village 2806, 2814, 2818, 2822, 2838, 2846, 2850, 2854, 2858 E. 8th St. First floor: walk-in closets, bathrooms, laundry room; William F. Fisher West Suites and Case Tennis Center designated areas; Norman Village Apartments (Bldgs. 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900) 305, 315, 321, 327, 333, 339 S. Delaware Ave., 2830 E 3rd St., 2831 E 4th Pl., 312 S Evanston Ave. First floor: walk-in closets, bathrooms, laundry room; John Mabee Residence Hall and Chapman Hall designated areas University Square South Apartments (Bldg. 1800,1900, 2000) 425 S Delaware Ave., 2815 E. 5th, 2830 E 4th Pl. First floor: walk-in closets, bathrooms, laundry room; John Mabee Residence Hall and Mary K. Chapman designated areas University Square West Apartments (Bldgs. 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700) 412, 416, 420, 424, 428, 432 S. Delaware Ave. First floor: walk-in closets, bathrooms, laundry room; Collins Fitness Center designated areas and John Mabee Residence Hall designated areas West Park Apartments: 1010-1038/Psychology Dept. Clinic 2405 4th Pl. S First floor interior hallway outside of the True Blue Neighbors’ office -
North Campus Buildings
Building Name Physical Address Storm Shelter/Severe Weather Area North Campus: Drill Building 2450 E. Marshall St. Interior rooms on lower level, lower level rest rooms North Campus: Cold Flow 2450 E. Marshall St. Shelter areas listed in nearest North Campus building North Campus: Hydrate Facility 2450 E. Marshall St. Shelter areas listed in nearest North Campus building North Campus: Special Projects Building 2450 E. Marshall St. Move to safer building if time permits, otherwise use restrooms North Campus: TUFFP/TUPDP 2450 E. Marshall St. Move to electronics shop, Model Lab Building or Drill Building North Campus: Alpine House 2450 E. Marshall St. Rest rooms, under stairs in nearest North Campus building North Campus: Machine Shop 2450 E. Marshall St. Move to electronics shop, Model Lab Building or Drill Building North Campus: Model Lab Building 2450 E. Marshall St. Interior offices and rooms without chemicals North Campus: Storage Building 2450 E. Marshall St. Move to electronics shop, Model Lab Building or Drill Building -
Off-Site/Off-Campus Buildings
Building Name Physical Address Storm Shelter/Severe Weather Area Gilcrease Offsite Location Lower level Helmerich Center for Gilcrease Museum 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd. Men’s and Women’s Rest Room on the first floor. For additional space use hallway near elevator on first floor or hallway downstairs in HCAR. Henneke Building 1204 S. Harvard Ave. Basement, inside rooms with no windows Oxley Health Sciences Facility 1215 S. Boulder Ave. Basement – go to the main lobby; use the stairwell that goes to the basement – located directly south of the elevators. True Blue Neighbors Behavioral Health Clinic / West Park Apartments 2405 E. 4th Pl. S First floor interior hallway just outside of the True Blue Neighbors’ office 101 E. Archer Building 101 E. Archer St. First floor west stairwell, first floor restrooms Automotive Research Center First floor interior offices, restrooms -
After-hours Shelter Locations
Allen Chapman Student Union
Case Athletic Complex
Chapman Hall
Chapman Stadium Visitor Locker room (west side)
Collins Administration Hall
Collins Fitness Center
Hardesty Hall / Holmes Student Center
Helmerich Hall
Kendall Hall
Keplinger Hall
Law School & MLIC
Lorton Hall
Lorton Performance Center
Mary K. Chapman Center
Mabee Gym / Band
McFarlin Library
Michael D. Case Tennis Center
Oliphant Hall
Phillips Hall
Rayzor Hall
Reynolds Center
Sharp Chapel
Stephenson Hall
Tyrrell Hall
Zink Hall
Oxley, Archer, and HCAR-only open if events in progress
Preparing for a severe weather event
The spring season is a good time to begin making necessary preparations for storms.
A place to start would be to ensure you have provisions available to sustain you for several days if a storm impacted the community, such as:
- A full tank of gas in your vehicle
- Prescription medications for three to seven days
- Non-perishable food for at least three days
- Pet food
- Water for at least three days (drinking, washing hands and dishes, etc.)
- Cash
When announcements are made about severe weather that could impact this area, you should check to make sure you have the provisions you might need.
Have a plan where you will go during a storm. Make sure your friends and roommates are aware of the plan and know where to go. Have a plan to communicate with friends and family after the storm has passed.
You should prepare an emergency kit that you could take with you if you have to go to a storm shelter or leave your residence. The kit should include:
- A first aid kit
- Weather radio
- Non-perishable foods, for yourself and pets
- Water
- A change of clothes
- Prescription medications
- Cell phone and a charger
- Flashlight
- Whistle
- Copies of important documents (i.e. passport, drivers license, banking information, medical information)
- Cash
Wear sneakers or other closed toe shoes when you go to the storm shelter, so you are protected from broken glass after a storm.
Safety guidelines for other weather events:
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Hail and Lightning
Lightning
- Lightning is a deadly weather hazard often underestimated during thunderstorms.
- It can strike up to 10 miles away from rainfall without warning.
When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
- Take immediate precautions when thunder is heard, indicating lightning nearby.
- Follow the 30/30 Rule: Go indoors if thunder follows lightning within 30 seconds; wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder to resume activities.
Safety Measures During Lightning:
- Postpone outdoor activities and seek shelter in an enclosed building with wiring and plumbing.
- If indoors is unavailable, a hard-topped metal vehicle with closed windows is safe.
- Unplug electrical devices and avoid open areas, patios, trees, and tall objects during a storm.
If Struck by Lightning:
- Call 911 immediately and move the person to a safer place.
- Administer first aid, including CPR if necessary, and use an AED if available.
Hail
- Hail is a common and costly weather hazard in the US, causing damage to property and posing injury risks.
Before a Severe Storm:
- Protect pets and vehicles by bringing them inside or finding covered parking.
- Stay informed with local weather alerts.
During a Severe Storm:
- Stay indoors to avoid hail and strong winds.
- Keep away from windows and glass doors; close drapes, blinds, or shades.
- Prepare for tornadoes by moving to a safe area within your residence.
On the Road During a Storm:
- Stay in your vehicle and slow down; seek covered parking if possible.
- If caught without cover, turn away from windows and shield yourself from broken glass with a blanket or coat.
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Extreme Heat
Extreme Heat
Prepare for Extreme Heat:
- Extreme heat is defined as temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two to three days, coupled with high humidity.
- Your body works harder to regulate temperature during extreme heat, which can be life-threatening.
Protect Yourself:
- Learn to recognize signs of heat illness.
- Avoid relying solely on fans for cooling as they do not reduce body temperature effectively.
- Identify cool places on campus and utilize window coverings and weather-stripping to keep indoor spaces cooler.
- Minimize outdoor activities and increase water intake when outdoors.
Stay Safe During Extreme Heat:
- If air conditioning is unavailable, seek cooling locations on campus and contact UTulsa Housing for assistance.
- Take cool showers, wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing, and minimize oven use indoors.
- Stay shaded outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Avoid strenuous activities during midday heat and be mindful of heat-related illnesses.
Recognize Heat-Related Illnesses:
- Learn to recognize the signs of heat illness.
- Seek medical attention promptly if symptoms worsen or if you suspect heat stroke (e.g., extremely high body temperature, red, hot, dry skin).
Get more detailed information about heat-related illnesses from the CDC and National Weather Service.
If you are unsure of a safety issue call:
Campus Safety and Security immediately at 918-631-5555
In a medical emergency, call 9-1-1
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Floods
Flood Safety Guidelines
Understanding Floods:
- Flooding occurs when water temporarily overflows onto normally dry land, often caused by rain, snow, coastal storms, or dam and water system overflows.
- It is the most common natural disaster in the United States and can result in significant damage and danger.
During a Flood Warning:
- Immediately seek safe shelter.
- Evacuate if advised.
- Move to higher ground or a higher floor if indoors.
- Stay where you are if safe.
- Never walk, swim, or drive through flood waters—turn around, don’t drown!
- Avoid bridges over fast-moving water.
Staying Safe During a Flood:
- Follow evacuation orders promptly and do not drive around barricades.
- Contact your healthcare provider if needed and await further instructions.
- In a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
- Stay informed through emergency alert systems like EAS or NOAA Weather Radio.
In Flood Water:
- Never enter flood waters on foot or in a vehicle.
- Stay in your car if trapped by rapidly moving water; climb to the roof if water rises inside.
- If trapped in a building, move to the highest level; signal for help from the roof only if necessary.
After a Flood:
- Await authorities’ clearance before returning to your dorm.
- Limit driving to emergencies.
- Use protective gear during cleanup to avoid health risks from mold, debris, and contaminants.
- Beware of electrical hazards and potential wildlife.
If you are unsure of a safety issue call:
Campus Safety and Security immediately at 918-631-5555
In a medical emergency, call 9-1-1