Tornado WATCH in Effect Until 10 p.m. for Waco, McLennan County

Media Contact: Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-1961
Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia

WACO, Texas (March 21, 2022) - The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado WATCH for a large portion of Central Texas, including Waco and McLennan County, effective until 10 p.m. tonight (Monday, March 21, 2022). This means that tornadoes – along with damaging winds and hail – are possible in and near the watch area.

If the NWS issues a Tornado WARNING, Baylor, the City of Waco and McLennan County will activate their tornado sirens, and the University will send a Baylor Alert text and email to the campus community alerting you to take immediate action.

Baylor has canceled all outdoor events scheduled for tonight.

In the meantime, we ask that you please review and discuss your emergency plans. Baylor’s tornado safety procedure guide is available here. Check supplies, make sure your phone is charged and check the safe space in your home, apartment or residence hall. In residence halls, Severe Weather Assembly Areas are identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout each building. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching.

In the Event of a Tornado Warning:

There are multiple ways the City of Waco, McLennan County and Baylor University alert their respective communities in case of a tornado:

• Tornado Sirens: There is a network of sirens operated by the City of Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management. Baylor University maintains its own outdoor notification system. The sirens are activated during a tornado warning if a tornado is imminent.
• Baylor Alert: Outdoor/indoor notification system, emergency email and text messages, audio message to a cellphone or other telephone, Baylor’s main website (www.baylor.edu), official Baylor social media accounts at Facebook (www.baylor.edu/facebook) and @Baylor on Twitter (twitter.com/baylor). More information about the Baylor Alert emergency notification system is available here.
• Local media, weather radios, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

Safety Procedures:

Indoors

• Seek shelter immediately on a ground floor, in an interior room.
• Do not use elevators.
• Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
• Avoid any wide-span roof areas such as auditorium, gymnasiums, cafeterias and large hallways.

Residence Halls

• Residence Hall Directors and available staff will gather all residents to the Severe Weather Assembly Areas (identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout the facility).
• Residents should bring blankets for protection from debris.
• Remain in the Severe Weather Assembly Areas until the tornado passes, and an All Clear is issued via Baylor Alert.

Outdoors

• Seek indoor shelter, if possible.
• Parked motor vehicles are unsafe.
• If indoor shelter is not available and there is not time for escape, lie flat in a ditch or low spot.
• If you are on a flat ground and are caught in the path of a tornado, always move at right angles to its path.

Individuals with mobility/impairments or physical disabilities:

Supervisory personnel and course instructors are responsible for identifying and escorting individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities located in their offices/facilities or classrooms to safety in the event of a tornado warning.

The elevators may be used to transport individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities and their escorts to a safer location. Visually impaired and hearing-impaired individuals may be escorted down the stairs, but may require assistance in moving in crowded staircases and in finding a safer location.

In the event of a power failure, individuals who are unable to use the stairs and their escorts should move to an interior location without windows and call the Baylor University Police Department (254-710-2222) who will notify the appropriate emergency personnel with the location.