Tornado Preparedness Training for Floor Captains

1. Tornado Preparedness Training for Floor Captains Stoughton Tornado August 18, 2005 University Safety and Assurances (414) 229-6339

2. 2011 Tornado Awareness Week • April 11th-15th, 2011 is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin UWM drills will occur on Thursday, April 14th at 2 PM For On-Campus Thursday, April 14th at 1:20PM For-Off Campus

3. Tornado Shelter Area Signs • “Tornado Shelter Area” signs are posted in each campus building, typically located on the lowest level of the building. • In some buildings an interior classroom or stairwell may be an appropriate shelter area

4. “Shelter in Place” Locations • Newly identified interior classrooms where occupants can “shelter in place” can be identified by a temporary sign posted on the wall outside of the room

5. Podium Instructions “Podium Instruction” cards have been created for classrooms containing 50 or more students. These cards provide the instructor with emergency information on procedures in the event of a tornado or fire emergency

6. Tornado Shelter Areas • Emergency Evacuation signs (posted in prominent locations) identify your shelter areas • Extra, temporary tornado signs are available. Shelter Area maps: http://www4.uwm.edu/uap/space/floor-plans.cfm

7. Announcement of Drill • Buildings with fire alarm panel or other public address systems will be notified via a verbal announcement over the PA System by the building chair

8. Announcement of Drill • Text of standardized message to building occupants will be provided to Building Chair. • Building Chair announces commencement of drill and location of Shelter Areas

9. Announcement of Drills and Warnings • Buildings with no PAsystems will be notified by manual alarms (whistles) on each floor of the building • These buildings are: • Alumni • AUP • Bolton • Chapman • Hefter • Mellencamp • Physics • Power Plant • USRB • Zelazo • WATER Institute

10. Building Chairs • Building Chairs should know the Floor Captains for their building • Do you have adequate coverage for all floors of your building? • How will you communicate with your floor captains? Link to Listing of Floor Captains: http://www4.uwm.edu/usa/safety/general_safety/fire/floor_captains.cfm

11. Floor Captains • Floor Captains are identified by green fluorescent vests • For buildings with no PA systems, floor captains will also be issued whistles • Please let us know if you need a vest and/or whistle

12. Role of Building Chairs & Floor Captains During Drill • Building Chairs & Floor Captains “direct traffic” • Guide visitors, students and others who may not be familiar with building to shelter area • Monitor security of building • In the event you will not be available to assist with the drill, we would appreciate your assistance in identifying a co-worker or colleague who could temporarily perform your floor captain duties

13. Role of Floor Captain During Drill • Monitor corridors on assigned Floor to ensure personnel are moving to shelter. • Check restrooms on assigned floor to ensure they have been evacuated. • Concentrate on public areas. • Office managers, classroom lecturers and laboratory or workshop heads should be responsible for advising occupants in their areas to evacuate. • Those floor captains assigned to shelter areas should assess designated shelter location (Did everyone fit? Could it be reached quickly?) • Complete evaluation form and give to your building chair

14. Evacuation • Once the drill is announced, occupants should proceed quickly and calmly (using interior stairways if necessary to reach a lower level) to a building tornado shelter area

15. High Rise Buildings • Go to enclosed, windowless area in center of building -- away from glass • Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly • Stay off elevators; you could be trapped if power goes out

16. High Rise Buildings • Bolton • Chemistry • Cunningham • Curtin • Enderis • EMS • Sandburg • Continuing Ed (Plankinton Building) • SECONDS COUNT - Floors 4 and below should go to basement; Floors 5 and above should seek shelter in interior spaces (restrooms, stairways, interior rooms and hallways).

17. Evacuation - Individuals with a Disability • Supervisors should be responsible for assisting any student, staff member or visitor who has a disability • Recommendations are: • Mobility impaired-wheelchair:Elevator to shelter • Mobility impaired, non-wheelchair:Elevator to shelter • Hearing impaired: Inform of announcement and shelter advice • Visually impaired: Offer elbow & assist to shelter

18. Conclusion of Drill • At the conclusion of the drill (once occupants have reached the designated shelter areas or after 10 minutes) in those buildings with a PA System, the Building Chair will make an “All Clear” announcement. • In those buildings with no PA System, floor captains will announce to occupants that they may return to their rooms

19. Evaluation and Debriefing • Floor Captains will meet briefly with their building chair for a debriefing and to turn in their evaluation form • Or send forms to University Safety and Assurances in Eng. 270