Safety and Weather Information
Utilize NOAA Weather Service alert OR portable radios to monitor severe weather information.
- Listen to: Topeka Weather Radio
(from Weather Underground). - View: Topeka forecast or radar.
Effective April 6, 2009 the University calling tree is discontinued. In its place, the University's automatic phone dialing system will call all 670 extensions automatically on campus between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. for notification of tornado watches and warnings. The automatic notification will be activated by the Washburn Police Department as needed. The Risk Management and Safety Department will continue to send out e-mails when weather conditions are right for producing the threat of severe weather. The use of weather alert radios during severe weather season is also recommended.
- Tornado watch: conditions are favorable for tornadoes. You may continue normal activities. Supervisors should assign someone to monitor the situation and notify others if storm conditions deteriorate.
- Tornado warning: a tornado is occurring in the area. Seek shelter immediately! If you are inside a building, proceed to the designated tornado refuge area in the building. If there is no designated tornado refuge area go to an interior hallway or other enclosed area on a lower floor and away from windows. Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums, or other large rooms where roof collapse may be more likely. Seek shelter if you are outside or in a vehicle.
- Severe thunderstorm watch: conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms. You may continue normal activities. Supervisors should assign someone to monitor the situation.
- Severe thunderstorm warning: severe thunderstorms are occurring in the area. Be prepared to move to a place of shelter if threatening weather approaches. Stay indoors away from windows until the storm passes. If large hail begins to fall, seek shelter.
Other Safety Information
- Bomb Threat Checklist
- Building Evacuation Procedures for Disabled Individuals
- Building Evacuation Procedures
- Law School Fire Evacuation Plans
- All Floors (739 KB PDF)
- First (257 KB PDF)
- Second (280 KB PDF)
- Third (137 KB PDF)
- Fourth (98 KB PDF)
- Fire and Life Safety Guidelines
During emergency situations, advisories will be provided by Washburn University or the School of Law Dean's Office.
School Closings
Generally, the law school is open if the university is open. If the university is closed, the law school will be closed.
Closings are posted on the university's website. Go to MyWashburn, login, and click on the "WU Today" tab. If you cannot access the Internet or a local TV station for information, you can call (785) 670-1010, where a recording will tell you about any closing.
Severe Weather and Tornado Information
During tornado warnings, information about a tornado's path and status will be provided to the dean (Romig) or his designee (in his absence, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (Glashausser); in his absence, to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (Anders); in her absence, to the Library Director (Christensen)). This individual will make the decision as to whether classes and other building occupants should be directed to go to the law school tornado refuge areas.
Tornado refuge area locations are (links display maps (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)):
- Law School & Law Clinic: first floor rooms 100, 102 and men's and women's restrooms
(Note: Emergency lighting, including in the stairways, will come on if total building power is lost. However, flashlights are also recommended to assist with movement within the building.)
- Other Washburn University buildings
Helpful Shelter Hints
- Keep away from exterior doors.
- Close the corridor fire and/or stair doors (helps prevent wind tunneling, flying debris).
- Utilize restrooms (windowless) in shelter areas if additional space is required.
- If caught outside a shelter, stay away from tall furniture and files that could tip over. Get under something large or sturdy. Protect your head and neck.
- Take a flashlight.
Emergency Phones
Tornado shelters are equipped with red emergency (911) phones.
- Use phones only to report emergencies such as health or personal safety issues. These phones ARE NOT house or local access phones.
- Lift the handset to automatically dial 911 and reach Shawnee County Emergency Dispatch.
- University Police will be able to call the phones to announce to occupants of the area when a tornado warning has been lifted and it is safe to exit the tornado shelters.
