On Wednesday, the UNMC Omaha campus will participate in a tornado drill as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Review family plans
This week also is a good time to review family emergency plans regarding severe weather. Assistance in preparing family emergency plans can be found here.
The National Weather Service will issue a test tornado watch and warning at 10 a.m. and the test tornado warning at 10:15 a.m. unless severe weather is in the area. Douglas County will sound civil defense warning sirens for the daytime drill.
The hospital also may conduct an additional test tornado watch/warning drill on the evening/night shift, around 8 p.m.
Everyone should:
- Review the severe weather plan in the emergency preparedness guide, as well as your department’s plan;
- Know what to do and where to go in the event of a tornado warning; and
- Take the stairs, not the elevator, during a warning.
“We have been very lucky in the Omaha area,” said John Hauser, safety manager for UNMC. “Many in Sarpy and Mills counties are still paying for the damage from the tornado that hit the area last June. This is a good time to review and be ready.
“Make sure you have the UNMC Alerts downloaded to your cell phone so you will be notified of tornado warnings and campus emergencies,” he said.
During the drill, employees, faculty or students who experience problems or wish to make suggestions can contact Hauser or complete an online survey. Full link to online survey is here.