Home > Offices & Resources > Safety and Security > Severe Weather

Severe Weather Procedures/Shelters

Reference
The St. Paul Companies Guide to Disaster Recovery Planning

Policy
Ripon College designates safe areas of buildings to be used during severe weather. Students, staff and visitors are encouraged to remain in safe areas during the duration of the storm warnings.

Procedure

Storm Warning Systems

The Physical Plant and contract security routinely monitor weather conditions and weather reports when the weather is threatening.

• When bulletins of severe thunderstorm watch or tornado watch are issued, the Physical Plant and contract security will monitor National Weather Service information and prepare for emergency procedure implementation. This information may be obtained from television and radio reports.
• When bulletins of severe thunderstorm warnings or tornado warnings are issued, the Physical Plant and/or Security will implement emergency procedures.

The City of Ripon operates sirens that will blow warning of approaching severe weather.

• City sirens blow warnings only, they do not blow all-clears.
• The City of Ripon monitors weather bulletins and uses trained spotters.
• The City of Ripon also monitors Green Lake County and Marquette County bulletins, because these are the weather systems most likely to affect Ripon.

Severe Weather Warnings

• Severe thunderstorm watch: This indicates the possibility for tornadoes, thunderstorms, frequent lightning, hail and winds of greater than 75 mph.
  
• Severe thunderstorm warning: This announces the probability of frequent lightning, and/or damaging winds in excess of 50 mph, three-quarter inch hail and heavy rain.
  
• Tornado watch: This means tornadoes could develop in the designated area.
  
• Tornado warning: This warns that a tornado has been sighted in the area or is indicated by radar.
  

Emergency Procedures

When the Physical Plant or contract security personnel receive information of a severe thunderstorm watch or a tornado watch, they shall continuously monitor the storm situation and be prepared to implement emergency procedures in the event of severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings are issued as outlined above.

When the National Weather Service issues severe weather warnings or the City of Ripon sirens blow warning during normal business hours, the Physical Plant secretary or Physical Plant managers will notify by telephone the following buildings, instructing them to take immediate shelter for the duration of the storm warning:

Primary extensions/secondary extensions:

1. Library: ext. 175 or 750
2. Middle Hall: ext. 109 or 106
3. West Hall: ext. 378 or 109
4. East Hall and Todd Wehr: ext. 399 or 109
5. Farr Hall: ext. 144 or 109
6. Bartlett Hall: ext. 111 or 119
7. Harwood Union: ext. 112 or 172
8. Kemper Computer Center: ext. 320 or 343
9. Storzer Physical Education: ext. 133 or 315
10. Rodman Center for the Arts: ext. 791
11. Communicating Plus: ext. 156
12. Dining Hall: ext. 169 or 138

Non-normal business hours notification is to be completed by the Maintenance Department second shift before 10 p.m. or contract security after 10 p.m.:

1. Tri Dorms Hall director: ext. 061 or 062
2. Johnson Hall director: ext. 047 or 048
3. Scott Hall director: ext. 054 or 055
4. Quads and Merriman hall director: ext. 057 or 044 or 041
5. Storzer Physical Education: ext. 315
6. Todd Wehr Computer Labs: ext. 385
7. Dining Hal:l ext. 138
8. Pub: ext. 172
9. Rodman Center lobby: ext. 380
10. Communicating Plus: ext. 156

Note: Residence hall directors on call carry a two-way radio; contact them on Channel 3 and request call tree assistance to other residence hall staff.

Post Warning Activities

The Physical Plant or contract security will make rounds after the storm warning is lifted to inspect for damage and to notify any occupants who still may be in shelter that the storm warning is expired.

• Physical Plant and contract security shall notify public safety agencies for injuries requiring medical transport and shall direct the ambulance at the street as necessary to provide quick access the the scene of injuries.
  
• If injuries, property damage or power outages occur, notify management of the Physical Plant management so they can come to the College and begin mitigation activities. Physical Plant management can refer to the Emergency Management Plan for reference to notify senior administrators of storm-related adverse occurance.

Telephone Numbers

PHYSICAL PLANT MANAGEMENT

• Layne Sessions, Campus Safety Officer/Director of Physical Plant
  • Work number: 748-8174
  • Home number: 748-7304
  • Cell phone: 920-229-4215
    
    
• Mark Fitzwater, Assistant Director of Physical Plant
  • Work number: 748-8173
  • Home number: 748-2229
  • Cell phone: 920-229-4278
    
    
• Georjean Cotton, Housekeeping Manager
  • Work number: 748-8794
  • Home number: 748-2727
  • Cell Phone: 920-299-0779

• John Tobin, Grounds Manager
  • Work Number: 748-8142
  • Home Number: 748- 6716

Emergency Communications

• Hardwire telephone system
• Wireless communication
  • See above for Campus Safety Officer/Physical Plant Director and Maintenance Manager cell numbers.
  • See above for Campus Safety Officer pager number.
    The Physical Plant maintains two cell phones for vehicle fleet use. Those are kept in the Plant office and can be used if hardwire communications fail.
  • Two-way radios with repeater.