Severe Weather/Tornado Proceedure
A watch is an indication of where and when the probabilities are highest that severe weather and/or a tornado could occur. A watch is a statement that severe weather/tornado conditions are present and could occur. The National Weather Service will issue a watch bulletin to local authorities as well as to the local radio and TV stations.
When a severe weather/tornado sighting occurs, the National Weather Service alerts all weather stations and local authorities. If severe weather or a tornado is approaching, a continuous sounding of the city’s emergency sirens will signal the warning.
When the emergency warning sirens sound, it is YOUR responsibility to get to shelter. Take a battery-operated radio with you to listen for the “all clear” signal. When the emergency sirens are sounded, all persons should immediately seek shelter in the nearest building. Go to the basement or interior walls of lower floors. Auditoriums, gymnasiums, and similar large rooms with wide roofs should be avoided. Stay away from all windows and exterior doors.
- Move to the nearest building and locate a safe place to wait.
- Move to, or stay on, the lowest floor of any building.
- Stay in central corridors away from glass; cover your face with folded arms.
- Stay away from windows.
- Leave corridor doors open.
- Do not use any elevator.
- Types of areas considered to be the safest are:
- Basements
- Stairwells
- Tunnel
- Lower level rooms without any windows
- Lower level hallways without any windows
The following procedure is followed when it becomes necessary to close the college or cancel academic or non-academic activities, or delay the opening of the college due to inclement weather or other emergency conditions.
- Closing the College: Closing the college means to close all operations other than those operations deemed essential to the protection of life and property. Closing the college results in the cancellation of classes, student, faculty and staff activities, and meetings. All general offices are closed.
- Delayed Opening: Delayed opening refers to closing of all operations for a designated period of time other than those operations deemed essential to the protection of life and property.
- Cancellation of Classes and/or Activities: Cancellation of classes (off-campus or on-campus) means to cancel one, several, or all classes, in the absence of officially closing the entire university/college.
- Cancellation of non-academic activities refers to cancellation of an event such as athletic events, theatrical productions, concerts, or workshops. In accordance with MnSCU Policy 4.4, the authority to close the college campus, cancel classes or other activities when weather or other emergency exists resides with the college president or president’s designee.
- The closure of state agencies by the Commissioner of the Department of Employee Relations does not apply to Minnesota State College Southeast.
Red Wing Campus:
- KCUE - 1250 AM (Red Wing)
- KWNG - 105.9 FM (Red Wing)
- WCCO - 830 AM Radio
Winona Campus:
- KAGE Country - 1380 AM, 95.3 FM (Winona)
- KWNO - 1230 AM (Winona)
- HOME - 101 FM (Winona)
- KROC - 106.9 FM (Rochester)
- WIZM - 93.3 FM (LaCrosse)