Severe weather may impact the University. It is important for the University community to understand the potential hazards and to respond appropriately. Severe weather may occur suddenly and leave little time for action. The University monitors the weather and will notify the community through the Warnings protocol. Additionally, the University has prepared Severe Weather Guidelines that are specific to campus. See the Severe Weather page for more weather related information.
UA Severe Weather Guidelines
The safety and well-being of our students, employees and visitors is our highest priority at The University of Alabama. Please be familiar with UA’s severe weather guidelines and be prepared to quickly move to safety if severe weather occurs.
Some students and employees commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather-related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should take the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service issues a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning, people in the path of the storm should take immediate life-saving actions. Designated tornado shelters are open for the duration of a tornado watch and warning.
Personal safety should dictate the actions that students and employees take.
- Classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues tornado warnings for the campus. In the case of a tornado warning, all University activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories.
- Please move immediately to the shelter or best available refuge area and remain there until the tornado warning has expired.
- Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor.
- Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains
- Encourage students in your classroom to follow these procedures by remaining in the building and going with you to a shelter or best available refuge area
- During a tornado warning, Crimson Ride will immediately suspend operations, and the driver will direct passengers to shelter in select buildings.
Remember, when severe weather strikes and the warning sirens sound:
- Go to the nearest shelter or best available refuge area.
- Stay tuned to radio or television stations for further weather statements.
- Remain inside until the severe weather threat has ended.
If a tornado warning is issued for the campus, students, employees and visitors will be notified using some of the methods listed below. If you receive notification of a tornado warning through any of these methods, move to safety immediately.
UA can issue emergency notifications using the following methods:
- UA Alerts, which simultaneously deploys text messages, emails, and phone calls
- Campus Indoor and Outdoor PA system, located in most academic buildings and residence halls
- Emails
- Social media, including Twitter @UA_Safety
- Media alerts through TV, radio stations, and newspapers
- UA Home page
- Digital signage across campus
- Notifications on VoIP phones
- Desktop notifications
- Emergency Alert System (EAS)
- Crimson Ride bus marquees
- UA Safety app
- 92.5 FM UA Info Radio
Additional information regarding the University’s Emergency Management Program is available at: https://ready.ua.edu/.
In case of a severe weather event, communications will be sent to the phone numbers and email addresses that are listed in the employees’ Banner settings. To change these settings, visit myBama.ua.edu, navigate to the Employee tab, and click on the link Update Your Directory Contact Information. Follow us @UA_Safety on Twitter.