Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters

Earthquakes

• Stay indoors, if already there. Emergency evacuations will be made when it is safe to do so.
• Sit under sturdy furniture or against central inside walls.
• Stay away from glass windows and doors.
• Do not use elevators.
• Avoid using the telephone, unless you are in a life or death situation.
• If you are outside, stay away from buildings, bridges, and utility wires.
• Avoid running through or near buildings where there is danger of falling debris.
• Buildings will be evacuated after the earthquake, after-shocks, and tremors have stopped.
• Do not re-enter any building unless you receive permission from Campus Security.

Major Floods

Floods can usually be anticipated, unless they are a flash flood caused by torrential rainfall or caused by the bursting of a storage tank or water main.

Flash flood watch is a warning given whenever heavy rains are either occurring or expected, that may cause flooding in a particular area.

Flash flood warning is urgent and is given whenever there has been a dangerous rise in water level, caused by heavy rains, ice jam break-up, earthquake, or dam failure.

• Remain in a safe place in any flood.
• Follow instructions that will be given from time to time by Campus Security.
• If you are trapped, call Campus Security at 705-748-1333 to advise your location.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes are violent local storms with winds of tremendous speed that can reach 200-400 mph.

The individual tornado appears as a rotating, funnel shaped cloud that extends toward the grown from the base of a thundercloud. It varies from gray to black in colour, and the spinning action gives off a sound similar to an airplane. These short-lived storms are the most violent of all atmospheric phenomena, and are the most destructive in small areas.

Tornado watches are issued when the conditions are right for tornadoes to develop.

Tornado warnings mean that a tornado has actually been sighted in the area, or is indicated by radar.

Tornado Watch

• Listen to a radio or watch television for up-to-date weather service announcements.
• Watch the sky, especially to the south and southwest. Tornadoes usually move from the west to the east.

Tornado Warning

• If you are outdoors:
  • Get indoors, preferably in a substantial steel-frame, reinforced concrete building.
  • If you can't get indoors, go to the nearest ditch, culvert or low-lying area, take cover, and lie flat.
• If you are indoors:
  • Move to the basement
  • Open doors on the sides of the building away from the approach of the tornado, but stay away from them to avoid flying debris.
  • Close doors on the sides of the building toward the approach of the tornado.
  • Stay away from windows to avoid being hit by broken glass.