Department of Environmental Health and Safety

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Department of Environmental Health and Safety

• Preparing for Weather Emergencies29 CFR 1910.38

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Goals

• This program has been developed by DEHS to remind
  you of the actions you should take during severe
  weather. This includes
• Building emergency planning and preparedness
• Personal preparedness
• Specific actions to take in severe weather
  emergencies

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Is U of L or Your Home at Risk?

• Tornadoes
• Thunderstorms
• Flash Floods

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Hazards of Weather Emergencies

• Injuries and fatalities
• Buildings (work and/or
  home) could be damaged
• Impassable bridges and roads
• Damaged power lines
• Utility failures

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Hazards of Weather Emergencies (cont.)

• Broken windows
• Water damage
• Outside items blown
  or washed away
• People trapped
• Lightning strikes resulting in fires
• Interruption of operations
• Building/Roadway flooding

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Emergency Action Plan

• Notification
• Procedures for reporting emergencies
• Evacuation routes, weather safe havens and
  emergency procedures
• Accounting for employees
• Rescue and medical duties
• Evacuating unsafe/damaged buildings
• Returning to normal operations

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Emergency Procedure Handbook

• The Handbook outlines
  procedures that should
  be followed during
  severe weather watches
  and warnings
• The handbook also
  covers procedures for
  other emergencies, i.e.,
  fires,
  earthquakes and chemical spills

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U of L Notification and Alarms

• Fast Alert
• 9 Systems using
• Different methods to
• Notify quickly during
• an emergency

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U of Ls 9 Methods of Emergency Communication

• Text Messaging
• VOIP Phone Emergency Broadcast
• Outdoor Warning Sirens
• NOAA Weather Radios
• Bulk Email
• 1610 am Radio
• Trimarc Signs
• WebPage Message
• Media Advisories

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Text Messaging

• Users must sign up for service (only U of L
  faculty, staff and students)
• Will be tested twice annually
• Provides basic emergency information
• If you do not opt in, you will not receive
  messages
• FREE (unless you pay for text messaging)

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VOIP Telephone

• Text and audible message system
• No need to sign up
• Emergency messages will be sent to every VOIP
  phone in the University, including dorms
• Messages will be brief and provide information
  about the emergency and actions to take.
• Directs you to web page for additional Info

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Outdoor Warning SirensPublic Address System

• Operated by Louisville Metro
• Siren activation indicates that you should go
  into a building and seek more information from
  media or other source
• Public Address activation will provide specific
  information on Belknap Campus
• Sirens tested monthly on first Tuesday, PA is
  tested twice annually in spring and fall

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New Style Outdoor Warning Siren at Strickler and
Stadium
These new sirens are also Public Address
Systems that can be used to broadcast
instruction.
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Old Style Outdoor Warning Sirenat HSC and Shelby
Campus
These older type sirens will wail for 3-5
minutes during an emergency. You should turn a
radio or TV on for further information.
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NOAA Weather Radios

• Radio provides a verbal message of the type of
  emergency and action to take.
• Radio also provides indicator lights for persons
  with hearing disabilities
• Mostly broadcasts weather emergencies, but can be
  used for other emergencies as well
• Tested weekly at varying times
• Located in all University buildings

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NOAA Weather Radios

• Contact DEHS if you have trouble programming your
  radio
• Emergency back-up batteries should be replaced
  every six months

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Bulk Email

• Emails will be sent to all University accounts
  providing information on the type of emergency
  and the actions to take.

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1610 AM Radio

• Radio system with transmitters throughout the
  city
• Operated by Louisville Metro Government
• Will provide verbal message that will include the
  type of the emergency and actions that should be
  undertook
• Will be used mostly to inform people coming onto
  a U of Campus that the campus is closed

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Trimarc Signs

• Interstate text messaging system with locations
  on all interstates
• Operated by Louisville Metro Government
• Will provide text message that will include the
  type of the emergency and actions that should be
  undertook
• Will be used mostly to inform people coming onto
  a U of Campus that the campus is closed

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Web Site Message

• U of L will place emergency information on the
  www.Louisville.edu page
• Information will include more details than other
  methods

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Media

• Information will also be available through local
  media outlets
• U of L will keep the media briefed as much as
  possible, but information may be delayed in
  getting on air

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Fire Alarms

• Not a part of Fast Alert, but important in
  individual buildings
• Local alarms in buildings that are activated
  either automatically or manually to inform the
  occupants of a fire
• Will only be used in buildings that have a fire
• Adjacent buildings will not be notified unless
  the fire or other emergency affects them

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Word of Mouth

• Employees should make other faculty, staff,
  students and visitors aware of any weather
  watches and/or warnings.
• Employees should direct these individuals to take
  appropriate actions

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U of L Emergency Actions

• Ensure that other employees in your area are
  aware of the severe weather
• Stay indoors and away from glass doors and
  windows
• Go to a secure designated shelter, refuge area
  or safe haven
• Take steps to protect yourself, your fellow
  employees and students and minimize damage

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Evacuation Procedures

• Recognize evacuation signal and listen for
  instructions
• Shut down equipment, close windows and doors
• Go to the nearest safe exit
• Proceed to the assembly
  area on the ground floor or in the
  basement
• Participate in drills and provide feedback

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Your Family Emergency Plan

• Develop and practice your plan
• Determine evacuation routes and assembly areas
• Determine safe rooms for weather emergencies
• Know how to turn off your electricity, water and
  gas
• List family emergency phone numbers
• Understand outdoor sirens, own a weather radio
• Take First-aid and fire extinguisher training

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Home Disaster Supply Kit

• Radio and flashlight
• Water and dry or canned food
• Blankets and clothes
• First-aid kit, medicine
• Soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.
• Map, phone numbers, other documents
• Cash

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Tornado Preparation

• Before severe weather season arrives...
• Inspect roof framing and metal siding
• Install permanent shutters or plywood covers
• Tie down or secure outside furniture
• Remove or trim nearby trees
• Reinforce garage doors and double doors

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Tornados

• When a tornado watch orwarning is issued
• Get into a solid building
• Stay away from doors and windows
• Go to the center of building
• Hide under upholstered furniture or in
  closet/bathroom
• If outside, lie flat in ditch and cover your
  head with hands

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Floodwater Danger

• When a flood warning is issued
• Bring in outside items, move furniture upstairs
• Evacuate the flood zone
• Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams
• Do not attempt to drive across flooded roads
• If trapped, go to higher floor and wait for
  rescue

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Severe Thunderstorms

• Lightning, heavy rain, flash flood, hail
• Protection with shutters and lightning rods
• If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued
• Go inside a sturdy building or car
• Stay away from windows, faucets, electrical
  items
• If outside, crouch on the ground in a low place

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Summary

• Know the hazards of weather emergencies
• Understand your Building Emergency Action Plan
• Develop a family emergency plan
• Make a disaster supply kit
• Take steps to prepare at work and at home for
  emergencies

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Quiz

• 1. Name two severe weather emergencies that may
  occur in our area ________________,
  ________________
• 2. Describe two different ways U of L would
  notify employees of an emergency________________
  ____, ____________________
• 3. Besides calling for an evacuation, describe
  another action that U of L may tell employees to
  do in a weather emergency______________________
• 4. Name three items that should be in your
  familys disaster supply kit __________________,
  ____________________, ____________________

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Quiz (cont.)

• 5. When a warning is issued for a weather
  emergency, the weather emergency is expected to
  hit your area.
• 
  True or False
• 6 Outdoor warning sirens will notify you when you
  are inside of any U of L building.
  True or
  False
• 7. Describe two things you should do to prepare
  for a windstorm_______________, _______________
• 8. Describe two things you should do to prepare
  for a flood ________________, __________________

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Quiz (cont.)

• 9. If you are caught outside during a severe
  thunderstorm, what objects do you want to get
  away from? ______________________________________
  __
• 10. You should have at least two predetermined
  evacuation routes out of every room in your home.
• True or False

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Quiz Answers

• 1. Thunderstorms, tornadoes and floods.
• 2. Weather radios, outside warning sirens,
  audible alarms, paging system, radios, bullhorns,
  word of mouth and streaming video.
• 3. Shelter in place.
• 4. Radio, flashlight, water, food, blanket,
  clothes, first-aid kit, phone numbers, cash.
• 5. True.

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Quiz Answers (cont.)

• 6. False
• 7. Install shutters, secure outside furniture,
  trim nearby trees.
• 8. Protect HVAC and electrical equipment, anchor
  tanks, move valuables to higher floor, secure
  outside furniture, install sewer backflow
  valves.
• 9. Tall trees, metal fences, power poles, bodies
  of water.
• 10. True.