Anticipate tornado drills March 4 on Lawrence, Kansas City campuses

Editor's note (March 4): Because of the potential for inclement weather, the tornado drill and systems tests for the Lawrence campus and KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City are postponed.

LAWRENCE and KANSAS CITY — As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, the University of Kansas will participate in drills on the Lawrence and Kansas City campuses on March 4.

The Lawrence campus will participate in the Kansas Statewide Tornado Drill at 10 a.m. The drill will begin with the activation of outdoor warning sirens throughout Lawrence and Douglas County. The KU Office of Emergency Management will issue text and email alerts through the mass notification system, and the Emergency Public Address system will be activated.

The KU Medical Center campus will also participate in the Statewide Tornado drill an hour later when the sirens sound in Kansas City at 11 a.m.  On the day of the drill, KU Medical Center employees and students will:

• Receive an Alertus message on your university-issued computer and see the Alertus beacons lights flashing inside campus buildings.
• Hear the Alertus beacon sirens, except in the Health Education Building.
• Hear the county sirens sounding if you are outside.
• Receive a BeAlert email message and text message.

In the event of inclement weather, the drills may be postponed.

The Kansas Statewide Tornado Drill provides an important opportunity for students, faculty and staff to practice where and how they would shelter during a real tornado emergency.