Washington University in St. Louis will test its emergency siren systems at 11 a.m. Monday, March 3, and again at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6. The tests will take place unless there is the potential for severe weather or some other emergency is occurring at those times.
The March 6 drill at 1:30 p.m. will test the university’s emergency sirens as part of a Missouri statewide tornado drill. WUSTL’s warning sirens are located on Brookings Hall, Seigle Hall and Nemerov House. St. Louis city and county sirens will be activated as well. The sirens also will sound on March 3 as part of the 11 a.m. monthly siren test.
The tests are being held in conjunction with Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week, which is March 3-7.
The university also will provide information about the tests on the emergency website, emergency.wustl.edu.
WUSTL community members are strongly encouraged to update their contact information via HRMS and WebSTAC/SIS. The university uses the information in HRMS and WebSTAC/SIS to contact individuals when necessary in an emergency.
During Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit emergency.wustl.edu and click on “severe weather” to learn more about preparing for severe weather and safe ways to react during and after a weather emergency.
During a tornado warning, the WUSTL community should follow these instructions:
- Evacuate to the basement, an inside hallway or an interior bathroom on the lowest level possible with a flashlight and radio.
- Avoid places with wide-span roofs.
- Once evacuated, get under heavy furniture (if available).
- Use arms to protect your head and neck.
“Having knowledge of what to do or where to go in case of severe weather when at home or at WUSTL is crucial for the safety of the Washington University community in a weather emergency,” said Mark Bagby, director of emergency management.
For more information about the drills, email Bagby at bagbym@wustl.edu.
Additional information:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=severeweek
http://stormaware.mo.gov/