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Emergency Preparedness Home

Weather Emergency

Severe Summer Weather

A tornado or severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are right for severe weather to develop rapidly. If a watch is issued for Hennepin or Ramsey Counties*, the following steps should be taken:

• Monitor the local emergency alert radio station, the Twin Cities media, or the National Weather Service Web site.
• Supervisors with employees working outdoors should consider instructing them to go inside the closest building with safe areas.
• Supervisors with employees working indoors (such as in offices or laboratories) may instruct employees to close windows and blinds, and be ready to move to safe areas.
• Faculty with classes in session should close windows, inform students of their building's safe areas, and be ready to relocate to those areas.

A tornado or severe thunderstorm warning means that the severe weather is happening and the situation is dangerous. The National Weather Service will sound the sirens in the event of a tornado warning, but not in the event of other severe storms. The University will activate tone-alert radios. If a tornado or a severe thunderstorm warning is issued for Hennepin or Ramsey Counties, the following steps should be taken:

• Move students and staff to a safe area immediately. Safe areas include basements, pedestrian tunnels, or interior hallways on the lowest floor. Avoid large, poorly supported roofs and structures such as auditoriums or gymnasiums.
• Close classroom, laboratory, or office doors, and stay away from windows.
• Remain in a safe area until the warning expires or until the all-clear signal has been issued.

Severe Winter Weather

As a general practice, the University of Minnesota does not close unless the health, safety, or security of University personnel and students is seriously brought into question.

If the decision to close the Twin Cities campus is made, all official University announcements will be made exclusively through University Relations. Announcements of an emergency closing will, to the extent possible, specify the starting and ending times of the closing, and whether the closing includes specific University services, events, and evening or Saturday classes and programs.

University Relations will use a variety of communications tools to announce any closing. Twin Cities media, TXT-U text messaging, the University Web page will all be used to alert the University Community. The community is expected to seek out announcements and information on possible closing. Calling University offices will not guarantee that the latest or most accurate information is provided to the caller.