Tornado Emergency Plan
The OBU Police Department and other campus personnel monitor conditions carefully to be prepared for severe weather. The University Police Department also monitors local law enforcement, Shawnee Emergency Management and local news stations. The UPD and all campus RA desks are equipped with weather radios that provide alerts for watches and warnings in the area.
The OBU Rapid Message System will be utilized in the event of a campus emergency, including safety and weather announcements. The OBU RMS is available to current students and employees. If your mobile phone number is in the Banner system, it will automatically be included in the RMS. If your mobile phone number has changed or is not in the system, please log in to RAVE and enter it into the system.
Response to tornado warnings while in student housing
In the event of threatening weather, students who are in university housing will be notified by the Residential Life staff who will direct all students to take cover any time there is a tornado warning in the vicinity. (You may also hear the facilities alarm system and/or the Shawnee tornado siren.) Move immediately into the designated areas of your residence hall indicated below. During severe weather, you should not be near any outside windows or doors if possible. The locations listed for these facilities are considered to be the safest location for that building. Please remain in these locations until the TORNADO WARNING is terminated. DO NOT LEAVE THE BUILDING or designated shelter area until instructed to do so by University Administration, University Police or Residential Life Staff.
Residence Hall Designated Areas
Agee Residence Center
First Floor Baxter and First Floor Storer in Agee
East Devereaux Apartments
If possible and safe to do so, residents should go to the basement of Raley Chapel for shelter.
If not possible, use a closet, bathroom or hallway.
Howard Apartments
If possible and safe to do so, residents should go to the basement of Raley Chapel for shelter.
If not possible, go to the first floor of the Howard Suites (center building.)
Howard Residence Center
If possible and safe to do so, residents should go to the basement of Raley Chapel for shelter.
If not possible, use the first floor hallways.
Kerr Residence Center
First Floor
MacArthur Apartments
If possible and safe to do so, residents should go to the Village Apartments saferooms or go to the basement of Raley Chapel for shelter.
If not possible, use a downstairs bathroom or hallway.
Taylor Residence Center
If possible and safe to do so, residents should go to the basement of Raley Chapel for shelter.
If not possible, use the first floor hallway.
WMU Residence Center
First floor hallway
West University Apartments
If possible and safe to do so, residents should go to the basement of Raley Chapel for shelter.
If not possible, use a downstairs bathroom or hallway.
Married Housing
If possible and safe to do so, residents should go to the basement of Raley Chapel for shelter.
If not possible, use a downstairs center apartment.
Village Apartments
Safe rooms and Raley Chapel basement
The Lodge
Safe rooms
It is recommended you take a pillow or blanket with you in the event of a tornado siren. These items should be used to cover your head from potential flying debris.
Non-Residential Building Designated Areas
Art Building
Raley Chapel
Art Annex
Raley Chapel
Bailey Business Center
Raley Chapel
Cargill Center
Cargill Basement
Coates Building
Raley Chapel
Eyer Building
Raley Chapel
Football Facilities
Raley Chapel
Ford Hall
Ford Hall Basement
Geiger Center
Raley Chapel
Kemp MFT Clinic
Ford Hall Basement
Mabee Learning Center
Mabee Learning Center Basement
Mathena Center
Track Annex Safe Rooms
Montgomery Hall
Raley Chapel
Noble Complex
Raley Chapel
Owens Hall
Mabee Learning Center Basement
Raley Chapel
Raley Chapel Lowest Level
Sarkeys Center
Mabee Learning Center Basement
Science Annex
Ford Hall Basement
Shawnee Hall
Mabee Learning Center Basement
Stavros Hall
Stavros Saferoom
Thurmond Hall
Mabee Learning Center Basement
Wood Science Building
Mabee Learning Center Basement
If you cannot move to one of these primary areas, move to the lowest area of the building nearest you (or the one you are in) and seek shelter in an interior bathroom or other interior space without windows.
Residential Life Staff
Residential Life Staff will help direct students to shelters or will have a designee assigned in their absence to direct students.
Response to tornado warnings while in class or other activities outside of residence halls
If there is a tornado warning while students are in class and immediate cover is necessary, move immediately into the safest area of the building (lowest level of the building, in a closet or under stairs). During severe weather, you should not be near any outside windows or doors. If possible and safe to do so, faculty and staff should direct students to a building with a basement for shelter.
Storm shelters during business hours
In addition to the lowest levels of residence halls provided to residents of those buildings, it is the practice of the University to make the basement areas of Raley Chapel available to OBU students and employees during business hours when there is potentially bad weather.
Storm shelters after business hours
Any time after business hours when the National Weather Service places the Shawnee area under a Tornado Watch, University Police officers will open Raley Chapel north exterior doors for students and employees. Yarborough Auditorium in Raley Chapel will be opened as needed. Officers will notify Police Dispatch when the buildings have been opened for shelter purposes.