Severe Weather

Among the more common forms of severe weather in our area are thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes.

The Rock Valley College emergency warning siren will be sounded after a tornado warning has been issued for Winnebago County. Additionally, RVC video monitors will automatically display a tornado warning screen and broadcast the National Weather Service message. A tornado warning means that a funnel cloud or tornado has been spotted in the county.

How to respond:

• The safest place to be during any of these storms is inside a secure structure as most damage occurs as a result of broken glass and flying debris.

• All buildings at the college have tornado sings posted, advising of safe places within the College to seek shelter during a tornado.

• If you find yourself in a storm, proceed with the following guidelines:
   
  • Follow room instructions to move to a place of safety.
  • Leave windows alone and move away from them.
  • Seek hallways or rooms without windows. If time allows, move to lower building levels. Do not use elevators.
  • Avoid rooms with large roof spans such as the PEC or theaters.
  • Wait until the storm passes and "All Clear" message is issued (you will not be dismissed from class during a tornado warning)
  • Communicate through phones and video monitors.
  • Monitor local TV and radio stations for updated weather information and college closing announcements.