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Bad Weather

The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is our first priority. The University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) has a number of methods to communicate emergency messages or update the university on campus closings or emergency status.

Explore the links below for helpful information


Covid-19 Impacts on Emergency Procedures

 During Emergency Evacuation whether it be a Fire, Severe Weather, or any other Emergency remember to:
  • Wear a Mask
  • Maintain Social Distancing during movement
  • If in a Shelter continue to wear a Mask and maintain Social Distancing as much as possible
  • Listen to the Directions of Public Safety and Student Housing personnel; there are plans in place to account for students in Quarantine and Isolation. 
Your compliance will assist University Personnel in successfully carrying out these plans.

 

Be Prepared

During severe weather season, be prepared to take precautionary measures in the instance of inclement conditions like tornadoes, straight-line winds or hail.


Monitor Local Weather

When there is a threat for severe weather, you can monitor local news channels or websites to stay informed about changing conditions:

News Media
KETV
KMTV
KPTM
WOWT
Omaha World-Herald  
The Weather Channel

  

What to Do In Case of a Tornado Watch or Warning

Tornado Watches and Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service when the probability exists that a significant threat could develop over a wide area.

A TORNADO WATCH means that tornadoes are likely to develop. 

A TORNADO WARNING means that a tornado actually has been sighted somewhere in the general area, you need to take immediate shelter.  Campus shelter locations are listed below.

If the warning sirens are sounded or a tornado is sighted approaching campus:

  • Proceed immediately to the interior hallway on the lowest floor or basement, unless there are boilers or electrical switch-gear areas housed in the basement.

  • If time does not permit, get into the safest area of your classroom or office (the inside wall away from the doors and windows.)

  • Avoid windows, auditoriums, gymnasiums or other structures with free-span roofs and boiler or electrical switch-gear areas.

  • Take shelter underneath your desk or any heavy furniture available.

  • Assume a curled position protecting your head and eyes.

  • All persons should remain in the shelter areas until advised the warning has ended.

  

Campus Tornado Shelter Areas

 
Residence Hall  Shelter Area 
Maverick Village Basement of Commons Building     
University Village Weber Fine Arts lower level
Scott Court First floor hallway
Scott Residence Hall                 First floor north hallway
Scott Village  Basement of the Commons Building 
 

Building  Shelter Area
Alumni Center  Lowel level, rooms 030-032, Bootstrapper Hall (107)
Allwine Hall First floor, west hallway between rooms 114-138
Annexes Lower level, not in furnace/boiler room
Arts & Sciences Hall  First floor hallway, interior rooms on south side if unlocked
Biomechanics Research Bldg.  Lower level hallway between room 113-137
CPACS Lower level northeast rooms 003, A, B, E, F, G, H. If lower level is secured, use the first floor north hallway between rooms 111-102, if open use rooms on south side of hallway
Center Building Garage
Central Utilities Under stairs lower level
Comm. Engagement Center  Garage
Durham Science Center Use northeast and southeast stairwells to reach the lower level hallway
East Garage North lower level (Lot T) stairwells
Eppley Administration Bldg. Lower level hallways
H&K Bldg. 2nd lower level hallway between rooms 002-017
Kayser Hall First floor except mechanical rooms; stairwell
Library First floor area by the restrooms and elevator
Mammel Hall Restrooms on all levels (reinforced concrete columns); first floor hallway between rooms 115 and 121
Maverick Landing/Scott Crossing In Scott Crossing: First level, north side. Specially constructed hallway starting just past the administration area going all the way around ending short of the lounge area. 
Milo Bail Student Center     

Basement of the Bookstore

First floor hallways by restrooms in southwest corner

Hallways and rooms in northwest corner
Pacific Street Parking Garage First floor, east wall on southern half of the garage
Parking Building Primary Room 108, Secondary Room 109
PKCC Lower level garage
Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI) First floor hallway between rooms 116-146 and 172-193
Roskens Hall  Lower level auditorium, rooms 002-009
Sapp Fieldhouse Men's and women's locker rooms
Sculpture/Ceramics Studio CEC Garage, southwest entrance to CEC; H&K second lower level hallway
Strauss Performing Arts Center First floor north hallway; Milo Bail has shelter areas via the northwest entrance to Milo Bail
Weber Fine Arts Bldg. Lower level, long hallway on eastside of building
West Garage Lower level stairwells

    

Closures or Delays

The decision to close the university because of adverse weather conditions will be made by the UNO Chancellor or their designee.

This decision will be made in consultation with a Weather Emergency Committee to be established by the Chancellor. This committee shall have representatives from University Communications, UNO Public Safety, Facilities Management and Planning, Office of Academic Affairs, Division of Student Success, Human Resources, Faculty Senate, Staff Advisory Council, Student Government, and others as input is required.

 

Standard Operating Procedure

Unless otherwise indicated via public announcement, UNO will be open and all activities will be conducted as usual. As a matter of policy, UNO and the Omaha news media will not air announcements of school openings.
 

Communicating a Decision

Once a decision or decisions are made by the Chancellor, that decision - and all supplemental information - will be shared with the campus and larger community through the UNO website, email, social media, text alerts, and through local news outlets. Until such a message is shared, all regularly scheduled classes and campus operations are considered to be active.

A full list of UNO's severe weather policies, including closures and delays, can be viewed online.

Decision Timing

In the event of Severe Winter Weather approaching during normal business hours, every attempt will be made to decide on campus operations prior to 3 p.m., subject to changing weather conditions.

In the event of Severe Winter Weather approaching during the evening or overnight hours, every attempt will be made to decide on campus operations prior to 5 a.m., subject to changing weather conditions.

Classes

Any class that would normally take place during the window in which a cancellation of campus operations is in place due to severe weather should be considered to be canceled with all assignments or projects due at that time needing to be adjusted by the faculty member or instructor accordingly. This includes classes delivered remotely or asynchronously through digital learning.

In the event of a late start, any class that would normally start any time during the window of time in which campus operations are suspended should be considered canceled. This is true even if the class would normally end after the suspension period lapses. (Ex: A late start with campus operations returning to normal at 10 A.M. would cancel a class whose normal instruction time is 9 - 10:15 A.M.)

In the event of an early release, any class currently underway or that would have started prior to the suspension timeframe, but would normally end after the timeframe begins, should end as soon as the suspension of operations goes into effect. (Ex: An early release with campus operations being suspenseded at 4 P.M. would mean a class whose normal instruction time is 3 - 5:40 P.M. would need to end promptly at 4 P.M.)

Shuttles

In the event of a late start, UNO shuttles will begin operations one hour before the return to normal campus operations.

In the event of an early release, UNO shuttles will cease operations one hour after the suspension of campus operations takes effect.

Bad Weather Pay

Any hourly worker whose regularly scheduled duties are impacted by the late start, early release, or a closure will need to mark any such time as "Bad Weather" on their time sheet before submitting to their supervisor.

Previously Designated Personnel

Unless otherwise specified, all employees will not be asked to work during the period in which campus is closed due to severe winter weather.

Certain employees, who have been previously designated as needing to be on campus in the event of remote operations or severe weather will be asked to work with their supervisor to determine their scheduled time on campus.

Those who are required to come to campus will receive their normal pay as well as up to eight hours of bad weather time.

Additional Questions

Any individual with specific questions about how a decision regarding severe winter weather may impact them is encouraged to direct their questions to their immediate supervisor or instructor.

For any questions that cannot be answered by a supervisor or instructor, please reach out to one of the following contacts based on your association with UNO:

  

UNO Weather Notifications

Any announcement regarding a bad weather closure or delay will be conveyed via the following media:

  • The university homepage in the form of an emergency banner
  • All-campus email
  • Emergency alert text messages
  • The university's official social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter