Ole Miss changes tornado policy following severe weather, complaints

By Donica Phifer

Changes have been implemented to The University of Mississippi's tornado policy following severe weather on April 27.

A line of severe, tornado spawning, thunderstorms moved through the area, damaging homes in northern Lafayette county.

While Ole Miss followed an emergency plan that was already in place, students, faculty and staff didn't know what to do, said Jim Windham, member of the university Crisis Management Team.

“The university had never been tested in this way,” Windham said, “We weren't prepared. But we found our plan had problems in it.”

For emergency situations, the university relies on a system of text messaging called Rebel Alert which notifies students of any warnings, cancellations or closings.

However, text messages are not sent for tornado warnings, sirens are the primary alert, Windham said.

“There isn't sufficient time to send text messages for a warning. Technology doesn't allow real time results for cell phones, and it can take five to 20 minutes for texts to reach everyone,” Windham said.

Even though the text alerts and sirens were operating correctly, students were still unsure what to do.

“I unofficially cancelled my own classes. I had that option so I just stayed home,” said Elizabeth Wilson, a junior theatre major. “I felt bad for the people who felt like they had to go to class because there was no one who told us we could stay inside.”

Complaints from students, parents, and faculty led the Crisis Management Team to develop a new plan of action, including a website that will give real-time updates during an emergency situation, Windham said.

The same type of website is also used by the University of Alabama, and proved useful during the F4 tornado near the campus on April 27.

Further clarification of the tornado policy and open communication with students, faculty, and staff is a goal. Letters indicating changes in the policy have been sent via e-mail, and placed in The Daily Mississippian, Windham said.

Policy changes include classes being suspended when a tornado warning is issued and resuming 30 minutes after the warning expires, provided half of the class period is left.

Classes that are missed due to severe weather will be given time to make up tests or class work at a later date, Windham said.