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Office of Emergency Management
Emergency Management:
We can't prevent natural disasters, but we can be ready for them. Tornadoes, thunderstorms, flooding, hurricanes, and drought can bring on devastation and a sense of helplessness to families and businesses. Being prepared before the disaster strikes can help to mitigate the effects of disaster. During chemical spills, biological incidents and other man made disasters, we need to know when and where to shelter in place and when to evacuate. Training, education and collaboration are key elements for preparedness and safety of our university community, neighborhoods and business communities.
At The University of Texas at Dallas, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is committed to create a prepared university community of faculty, staff and students through collaborative disaster preparedness and response/recovery training and education. Our goal is to create awareness and provide proactive solutions so they can help themselves, their families and others in the next disaster.
- External Links
Disaster Preparedness Links:
There are many ways you can prepare for disasters. Follow the links below to raise your awareness of what to do before, during and after a disaster.
External links to organisations.
Tornado Facts:
- Peak tornado season in the South is March through May; in the North, it is late spring through early summer.
- They may strike quickly, with little or no warning. Winds may also die down and than pick up again.
- They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
- Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
- Look for the following danger signs: Dark greenish sky, hail, low-lying clouds, or loud roar.
- A tornado WATCH is to prepare people of a possible threat, while a WARNING is when a tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar and is imminent.
- Tornados are measured on an F-Scale called the Fujita Scale and are measured by six categories as shown below.
What to Do?
- Be prepared to take shelter immediately when storms are approaching.
- When a tornado is sighted, the most important rule is to get low and stay low.
- Never stay in a vehicle or chase the storm.
- If outside and no shelter is available, take cover on low, protected ground, such as a ditch.
- In a house, dorm or apartment immediately take cover in a small room, such as a bathroom or closet away from windows and crouch, covering your head.
- In a building: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area on the lowest floor in the center of the building away from glass and crouch, covering your head.
- Be awarew, not scared! Know the severe weather shelter areas on campus.
Hail and Straight Line Wind Facts:
- Many thunderstorms strike North Texas every year, many of them severe.
- A severe thunderstorm is defined as a storm that produces winds of at least 58 mph, hail three-fourths of an inch in diameter or a tornado.
- While tornadoes are extremely dangerous, wind and hail storms can do similar damage, so thunderstorms should never be taken for granted.
- Straight line winds, or winds in excess of 100 mph, strong enough to uproot trees and cause substantial damage to buildings.
- Downburst winds - severe and rapid downdrafts of air that push damaging winds outward on or near ground level, especially dangerous to aviation.
- Hail falling to earth at speeds nearing 100 mph, damaging trees, crops, automobiles and buildings.
- Hail storms cause more than $1 billion in damage nationwide each year.
What to Do?
- As with other severe weather threats, the key is to monitor TV and radio broadcasts as well as NOAA weather radio for storm warnings and watches.
- When straight line winds threaten, respond the same way you would to the threat of a tornado.
- Seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor, such as a bathroom or closet.
- Stay away from windows. If you are outside, cover your head to protect against flying debris.
- If you encounter hail while driving, turn around. You may be driving into the core of a thunderstorm where tornadoes form.
Flood Facts:
- Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States.
- Flood effects can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.
- Floods can develop slowly or over a period of days.
- Flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path.
- Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be destructive.
- Flooding can also occur when a dam breaks, producing effects similar to flash floods.
- Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds, or low-lying grounds that appear harmless in dry weather can flood.
- Every state is at risk from this hazard.
What to Do?
- Listen to the radio or television for information.
- Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
- Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.
- Secure your home and move essential items to an upper floor.
- Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so.
- Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
- Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall.
- If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.
- Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
- A foot of water will float many vehicles.
- Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and pick-ups.
- Water across a road may hide a missing segment of roadbed or a missing bridge.
- Roads weaken under floodwater and drivers should proceed cautiously after waters have receded, since the road may collapse under the weight of the vehicle.
Winter Weather Facts
- A Major winter storm can last for several days with heavy rain, snow, sleet and extreme low temperatures in some areas of the country.
- A winter storm Watch means a storm is possible in your area.
- A winter storm Warning means a storm is occurring, or will soon occur, in your area.
- Be aware of black ice in Texas keep safe distances while driving.
- Winter storms are deadly in that they can cause great damages and transportation and health risks.
- When traveling always be aware of weather before you go. Be aware of any road closures and alternate routes-carry a map with you.
- Be careful if walking during/after snow/ice storm to avoid physical injury due to melting, breaking or falling ice.
What to Do?
- Beforehand learn your winter storm and extreme cold terms to aid in identifying a winter threat.
- Keep extra clothing, a blanket, and flashlights in your car for emergency situations.
- Ensure your home is properly insulated and run water to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Know how to recover from skidding.
- Keep an ice scraper, gloves, travel shovel, flares/emergency lights and cell phone in car.
- Check on students/neighbors (especially elderly) and assist them if necessary.
Hurricane Facts:
- Hurricanes are nature's most powerful storms that can include storm surges, tornadoes, straight line winds, and heavy rain along with floods.
- Even the weakest category one hurricane can damage buildings, knock down power lines, flood roads and uproot trees.
- A Category Four hurricane carries about 100 times the damage of a Category One storm.
- A storm surge is a dome of water that can be 50 to 100 miles wide and 30 feet high or more.
- Tornadoes are most likely to form in the right front quadrant of a hurricane.
- Severe flooding and high winds can occur.
- Tropical Depression: an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
- Tropical Storm: an organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph.
- Hurricane: an intense tropical weather system with a well-defined circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.
What to Do?
- Have at least a one week supply of medications on hand.
- Learn safe routes inland. Identify several places you could go in an emergency, a friend's home in another town, a motel or public shelter.
- If you are not able to evacuate, stay indoors away from all windows.
- Ensure that enough non-perishable food and water supplies are on hand.
- Know the hurricane risks in your area. Learn the storm surge history and elevation of your area.
- Stay out of flood waters, if possible. The water may be contaminated, electrically charged or snaked infested.
- Make plan on how to evacuate your pets.
- Review your insurance policy.
- Learn the location of official shelters.
Staff Training:
- IS 100 • Intro to Incident Command System
- IS 200 • ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- IS 701 • Multiagency Coordination System
- IS 800.B • Nation Response Framework
Contact:
If you have any questions, please contact EH&S us at x4111.
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Updated: November 5, 2009
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