Severe Weather Information
In the event the National Weather Service issues a severe weather warning, it will be necessary to move to a sheltered area.
Severe weather warnings will be communicated through local civil defense sirens and Bennie/Johnnie Alert messages. Be aware that messages can come at any time of day or night.
If you have questions, contact the CSB Information Desk in Mary Commons at 5011 or the SJU Information Desk in the Great Hall at 2011. During a severe weather warning contact Campus Security or Life Safety only if you have an emergency.
- When a tornado or severe weather warning is issued, seek shelter immediately in the nearest building:
- In interior hallways
- In lower level of building (away from windows)
- In bathrooms or interior rooms
- Stay in the shelter until the weather warning has expired or someone from CSB Campus Security or SJU Life Safety notifies you that the weather warning has expired.
- CSB Campus Security and SJU Life Safety will issue severe weather warnings based on information received from the National Weather Service and Stearns County Emergency Management.
- Do not rely solely on sirens as a form of notification. It is important that people follow all instructions via the radio or authorities during a severe weather warning and then be patient waiting for the warning to expire.
- Keep your “eye on the sky”
- Listen to AM Radio WJON 1240
- Listen to FM Radio WWJO 98.1
- Watch TV reports
- Monitor radar maps and updates on severe weather on your computer and telephone (remember that some radar images can be up to 15 minutes old)
- If you hear civil defense sirens sounding, move to lower-level areas of the building that you are in and stay clear of windows.
- Fire alarms will not be used to announce a severe weather warning.
- Respond to instructions provided by security officers.
Residential Areas
Residence Halls
Seek shelter in the lowest level (basement, if available) of your building. Move to the most interior area possible, away from windows.
West Apartments
Seek shelter in the basement of your building. If you live in an apartment that is on an upper floor, get to the lowest level of the building that you can, immediately. This could be a laundry room or a neighbor’s lower-level apartment. Move to the most interior area possible, away from windows. If that is not available, then a closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot in your apartment during a tornado.
East Apartments
Seek shelter in the basement of the HAB. Please bring your ID card with you for building access at all hours. If you do not have time to seek shelter in the HAB, get to the lowest level of the building that you can, immediately. This may be a neighbor’s lower-level apartment. Move to the most interior area possible, away from windows. If that is not available then a closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot in your apartment during a tornado.
Houses
Seek shelter in the basement of your house. Stay clear of entryways, hallways and glass.
College Avenue Apartments
Seek shelter in the basement of the building. Stay clear of entryways and glass. The laundry room or a bathroom in the lower level of these buildings will be the best location during a storm.
Centennial Townhomes
Seek shelter in the fortified area of the Idzerda Commons Building (in the area behind the double doors into the vending area). Please bring your ID card with you for building access at all hours. If you do not have time to seek shelter in the Idzerda Commons Building, get to the lowest level of the building that you can, immediately. Move to the most interior area possible (such as a bathroom), away from windows.
Academic and Administrative Areas
Main Building
Occupants should proceed to the lower level of the building. Use space away from windows first. Sit on the floor with your back to the wall and cover your head with your arms and hands. If you have a jacket or coat with you, place that over your head and face to protect you from flying debris.
Henrita Academic Building (HAB)
Occupants should proceed to lower levels of the building EXCEPT those areas directly under the glass link.
Benedicta Arts Center
Building occupants should evacuate to the lower level of the building. Occupants should congregate in the practice room areas first and then fill lower-level areas as necessary. Interior hallways, green rooms, dressing rooms, lower-level restrooms, the costume shop and the dance studio would be appropriate areas to seek shelter.
Ardolf Science Center
If time permits, building occupants should evacuate to the HAB lower level. If this cannot be accomplished, all occupants should assemble in the lower-level center hallway, using the classroom and labs that have no windows or dangerous chemical issues. Available chemistry staff will evaluate possible lab use at the time of the shelter needs.
Clemens Library
Library staff have evaluated and marked shelter areas within the building. Building staff have accepted the responsibility to assemble building occupants in the designated shelter areas.
Richarda Hall
Occupants should congregate in the ground-level hallway with the link access and the east access door closed. All office doors should be closed to minimize exposure to flying glass and debris.
Haehn Campus Center, Murray Hall and Claire Lynch Gymnasium
Building occupants will be evacuated to the lower level of each area. Minimizing exposure to flying glass and debris is the ultimate goal, and all interior areas will be used for shelter: locker rooms, restrooms, meeting rooms, interior hallways and the training room. AT NO TIME should building occupants be in the field house during severe weather and shelter alerts. If time permits, the overhead doors should be closed to separate the fieldhouse from the rest of the HCC.
Gorecki Dining & Conference Center
Building occupants should evacuate to the lower levels of the building. Occupants should congregate in the kitchen, stairwells and mechanical rooms (basement level) of this building as their primary shelter areas. Secondary areas of safety would include interior hallways, offices and restrooms that are away from large glass windows and large open spaces. Time permitting, additional shelter space is available in the basements of nearby buildings (BAC, Lottie, Margretta, Brian).
Mary Commons
Occupants should proceed to the lowest level of the building, away from windows. Occupants should congregate in the lower-level restrooms as their primary shelter area. If time permits, bookstore staff should secure the bookstore area before sheltering.
Schoenecker Commons
Occupants should proceed to the lowest level of the building, away from windows.
The safety of community members is always our first priority, especially when weather and road conditions are less than ideal. As such, we monitor road conditions and make recommendations to students and staff on traveling in these conditions. As much advance notice as possible will be given prior to discontinuing bus service between the campuses (ideally 1-2 hours).
Shut downs before classes begin need to be announced before 6 am. Cancellations will be announced via Bennie/Johnnie Alerts.