Guidelines to Assist in Developing

Departmental Emergency Action Plans for

Tornado & Severe Weather

OSHA regulation, CFR 1910.38, outlines the requirements for employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans. Emergency action plans must cover those designated actions employer and employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire and other emergencies. The emergency action plans must be in writing and be site specific. University of Northern Iowa departmental emergency action plans for tornado & severe weather should include these minimum elements:

• Procedure to alert employees of emergency (alternative method will need to be developed for buildings/rooms that cannot hear the alert siren).
• Procedure to assist disabled employees or students, if applicable (identify who will assist in emergency or specific area of refuge utilized until help arrives).
• Procedure(s) for employees operating critical operations prior to seeking shelter, if applicable.
• Identify area designated as shelter/refuge for your building.
• Procedure to account for all employees after emergency.
• Procedure or method for determining and announcing emergency is over.

FEMA suggestions for shelter areas:

• Go to the basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest level.
• Stay away from windows and doors.
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways or shopping malls.
• Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it.
• Use arms to protect head and neck.

If you find you have questions, call the University Safety Office at 273-7269.

View an example of a general action plan:  PDF File   MS Word File

View UNI Campus buildings' emergency shelter/refuge areas maps.

View emergency response phone numbers and guidelines signage.

View Emergency Shelter Area signage.

Link to OSHA Emergency Action Plan e-tool