—Due to the potential of strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of Iowa on Wednesday, March 23, the Iowa Statewide Tornado Drill has been postponed until Thursday, March 24 at 10 a.m.—
In preparation for Iowa tornado season, Drake University along with Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, City of Des Moines, and the National Weather Service (NWS) will be issuing a tornado emergency test on March 23 24. Governor Terry Branstad has declared the week of March 20 as Severe Weather Awareness Week for the State of Iowa. Please proceed to a designated tornado shelter area or follow the “DUCK” safety list below.
Drake will also be testing the campus emergency mass notification system, Bulldog Alert. You should anticipate a call to the emergency telephone number you provided to the emergency notification system. The test is planned for March 23 24, with the following schedule:
• 10 a.m.—a test tornado watch,
• 10:15 a.m.—a test tornado warning
• 10:35 a.m.—test will be terminated
Because the NWS determined that weather prohibits the test from taking place on March 23, it will now be on March 24 with the same schedule. Notifications are conducted by the NWS throughout Iowa, and Drake is not able to adjust times to accommodate classroom scheduling. We thank you in advance for your participation and commitment to keeping Drake safe. Additional information about weather alerts can be found on blueView.
Drake University Mass Emergency Notification System: As a NWS “Storm Ready Certified Campus,” Drake University will only activate the emergency notification system when the storm threat is in the immediate vicinity of the campus. Severe weather sirens are activated by the City of Des Moines on an all-city basis; the Drake emergency notification system, Bulldog Alert, is activated for severe weather if there is an immediate threat to the campus.
Remember to “DUCK”:
D—Down to the lowest level like a basement or interior room on the first level
U—Get Under something sturdy
C—Cover your head
K—Keep in your shelter until the storm has passed
—Submitted by Chris Nickell, Director, Health and Environmental Safety