Bad Weather
Explore the links below for helpful information
- Be Prepared
- COVID-19 Impacts on Emergency Procedures
- Monitor Local Weather
- What to Do In Case of a Tornado Watch or Warning
- Campus Tornado Shelter Areas
- Closures or Delays
- UNO Weather Notifications
Covid-19 Impacts on Emergency Procedures
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Wear a Mask
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Maintain Social Distancing during movement
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If in a Shelter continue to wear a Mask and maintain Social Distancing as much as possible
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Listen to the Directions of Public Safety and Student Housing personnel; there are plans in place to account for students in Quarantine and Isolation.
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:
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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.
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If time does not permit, get into the safest area of your classroom or office (the inside wall away from the doors and windows.)
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Avoid windows, auditoriums, gymnasiums or other structures with free-span roofs and boiler or electrical switch-gear areas.
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Take shelter underneath your desk or any heavy furniture available.
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Assume a curled position protecting your head and eyes.
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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.
Should a bad weather situation arise during the workday, 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, Facilities Management and Planning, the Vice Chancellor’s Office for Academic and Student Affairs, Student Services/Registrar’s Office, Human Resources, 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, most of the Omaha news media will not air school openings.
Bad Weather-Related Announcement Options
The decision and announcement could be one of the following alternatives. Each alternative may include a statement concerning off-campus and evening classes (defined as those classes beginning at or after 4 P.M.).
With each option, online classes will continue as scheduled as they are delivered digitally and can be accessed without travel to the UNO campus.
OPTION 1
All on-campus classes and events will be cancelled and offices and buildings at UNO will be closed. No one except essential personnel is to report for work.
Online Classes
Online classes will continue as scheduled as they are delivered digitally and can be accessed without travel to the UNO campus.
Personnel
It is the responsibility of various department heads to determine who the essential personnel are and, if possible, if they should report to work. The number of essential personnel necessary may depend on whether the bad weather occurs during a student vacation period or during the semester. Departments that normally need to have essential personnel on duty are Public Safety, Facilities Management and Planning, and KVNO Radio/KYNE-TV. Other departments who identify personnel as essential should contact the Director of Human Resources for review.
OPTION 2
All classes at UNO will be cancelled, however, other business will be conducted as usual.
Online Classes
Online classes will continue as scheduled as they are delivered digitally and can be accessed without travel to the UNO campus.
Personnel
Staff personnel should report for duty.
OPTION 3
All morning classes at UNO have been cancelled and only essential personnel should report for work.
A decision regarding afternoon classes and work schedules will be announced mid-morning, and released to the news media so they can help with timely notification.
Students, faculty, and staff should take responsibility for listening to local broadcast news media for that update.
Online Classes
Online classes will continue as scheduled as they are delivered digitally and can be accessed without travel to the UNO campus.
Personnel
Only essential personnel should report for work.
OPTION 4
UNO will cancel classes and dismiss staff at a specified time.
Online Classes
Online classes will continue as scheduled as they are delivered digitally and can be accessed without travel to the UNO campus.
Personnel
Essential personnel shall remain on duty or report to work as scheduled.
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
- Emergency Information Line (402.554.2255)