Tarleton monitoring potential for severe weather today, this evening

Potential for Severe Weather

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 26, 2016

STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Tarleton State University officials are carefully monitoring the potential for severe weather this afternoon and into the evening. At 2:32 p.m. today, April 26, the National Weather Service issued Tornado Watch 109 for Erath, Ellis, Tarrant and Parker counties.

This includes Tarleton locations in Stephenville, Midlothian, Fort Worth and Weatherford.

As with all severe weather events, the university’s Office of Risk Management & Compliance is prepared to take appropriate action and issue emergency notifications via Tarleton’s Code Purple emergency warning system, allowing the distribution of safety information via campus email, text message and Tarleton’s official social media accounts.

If needed, arrangements are in place to provide two on-campus storm shelters for campus residents and the public seeking a safe area. Public storm shelter areas designated on the Stephenville campus are the Wisdom Gym / Kinesiology Building complex and the Barry B. Thompson Student Center’s lower level.

Tarleton’s Tornado Response Guidelines include the following:
• Tornado Watch – Tornadoes are possible in the area, as predicted by the NWS.
All persons are urged to know actions to take if the situation changes to a tornado warning or a tornado funnel is sighted. Individuals should monitor the radio or watch the sky/weather for deteriorating conditions.

• Tornado Warning – A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
The city of Stephenville Emergency Siren will be activated if a tornado is verified on the ground within 10 miles of the Tarleton campus by one of the following sources: Stephenville Police or Tarleton Police Department, Erath County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Highway Patrol or an authorized storm spotter. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY and move to the shelter areas in the two designated buildings on campus, or to the basement or first-floor of multi-story buildings. Because of possible power failures, avoid using elevators. Avoid glassed-in areas and move to inner hallways. If unable to move to a building shelter, take cover in the lowest or most depressed ground area available. Remain sheltered in place until radio stations announce that severe weather conditions no longer exist or the all clear emergency siren signal sounds.

To see Tarleton State University’s complete Tornado Response Guidelines and a full list of shelter areas in campus facilities, visit: http://www.tarleton.edu/safety/documents/tornadosafeareas.pdf.

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of nearly 17,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. True to Tarleton’s values of excellence, integrity and respect, academic programs emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.