7 Key Elements of U of Oklahoma’s Weather Safety Program

Learn how the University of Oklahoma has created a more weather-ready campus with these seven tips!

The September 2014 issue of Campus Safety features the article, “Protecting Large Outdoor Events from Weather Threats.” The article offers tips to help campuses prepare for severe weather emergencies.

The story also notes how the University of Oklahoma (OU) has teamed a full-time meteorologist with the campus emergency preparedness manager, fire marshal and police chief to develop comprehensive safety plans against high impact weather of all types. To achieve the goal of creating a more weather-ready campus, the OU Office of Emergency Preparedness has embarked upon a multi-faceted weather safety program.

The weather safety program includes the following:

  1. The creation of a master calendar of all campus events.
  2. Identification of an event coordinator for each event, as well as an event safety focal point.
  3. Comprehensive safety training, including weather hazards, for each event coordinator and focal point, and for all residence assistants for campus housing.
  4. Creation of an emergency plan including weather for all campus events.
  5. A weather forecast capability in the days and hours leading up to each event whereby information is communicated to event planners and coordinators.
  6. A web page that identifies the weather threats to the OU campus each day, as well as a robust social media presence.
  7. Real-time monitoring of weather conditions during campus events, and the ability to rapidly communicate weather risks to event coordinators and other safety personnel.

What does your campus’ emergency preparedness plan look like? What has been effective for your campus? Leave your comments in the section below!

 

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