Campus Security

Emergency Procedures Guide and Guidelines for Lenoir-Rhyne College

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

1. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS:  Thunderstorms are damaging winds, lightening and hail.  This type of storm could develop into a tornado.  Notification for this type of weather is normally given over the local radio and television stations.  They receive this information from the National Weather Service which will issue one of the following alerts: 

   1. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM BULLETIN:  Means that conditions are such that a thunderstorm may develop.

   2. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH:  Means that there is a possibility of a storm developing which would be greater in intensity than the severe thunderstorm indicated by the bulletin above.

   3. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING:  Indicates that a severe thunderstorm has developed and will probably affect the area for which the warning has been issued.

2. EMERGENCY TASK FORCE REACTION:  A severe thunderstorm should be reported to the Task Force Leader, or his/her alternate. If the Task Force Leader agrees that conditions warrant protective action, he/she will have all other members of the Task Force notified and if necessary issue the order to assemble.  The Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs will have the weather conditions passed on to the student residence halls.  The Department of Security and Safety will notify other areas.

3. TORNADOS:  A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that, while suspended from a cumulonimbus cloud, is in touch with the ground.  The centrifugal force of the rotating column of air creates a partial vacuum in the center of the vortex.  It is the combined action of the whirling winds and the partial vacuum that produces a tornado’s extremely destructive force.  The National Weather Service will issue one of the following alerts:

   1. TORNADO WATCH:  This is the first alert message issued.  A watch specifies the potentially affected area and the time frame during which the tornado formation is high probable.

   2. TORNADO WARNING:  A warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or indicated by radar.  A warning gives the location of the tornado at the time of the sighting, the area through which it is expected to pass and the time period during which it will pass the area.

4. EMERGENCY TASK FORCE REACTION:  When a tornado watch has been issued, the Task Force Leader, or his/her alternate shall issue the order to assemble if necessary.  The Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs will have the watch information passed on to the student residence halls.  The Department of Security and Safety will notify other areas of the campus.

5. WINTER STORMS:  A winter storm includes intense cold, breakdown of transportation, poor visibility, poor road conditions and disrupted utilities.  When a severe winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service, the Emergency Task Force will be notified.

6. EMERGENCY TASK FORCE REACTION:  When notified, the Task Force Leader shall decide if the school should be closed, placed on a delayed schedule, or remain open.  The Task Force Leader shall decide the need for the Task Force to assemble as well as the location.  In the event of severe snow and/or ice conditions, The Lenoir-Rhyne College Snow and Ice Policy will be placed into effect on a twenty-four (24) hours basis by the Task Force Leader, or his/her alternate.

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