Tornados can occur anywhere and during any time of the year. In Georgia, peak tornado season typically occurs between the months of March and May. In preparation for an active season, the Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Preparedness is introducing a Tornado Awareness Campaign in March to help educate students, faculty and staff about the dangers of tornados and what they can do to prepare. As with any disaster, it is important for students to have a plan in place for communicating with their families during emergencies and a disaster kit that contains basic necessities that may not be available following a disaster. Students should also be knowledgeable of their buildings and where the safest locations are for sheltering during a tornado warning.

Georgia Tech has employed several systems for alerting the campus community during severe weather. Students can sign up for the Georgia Tech Emergency Notification System (GTENS) at www.passport.gatech.edu to receive emergency alerts on their cell phones via voicemail and text message. Georgia Tech also has an outdoor siren warning system to alert students who are travelling between classes. Another tool for personal preparedness is the NOAA Weather Radio, which sounds an alarm when the National Weather Service issues a weather alert for the Fulton County area. NOAA Weather Radios typically cost about $30 and can be purchased at most major retailers.

With the one-year anniversary of the March 14, 2008, tornado in downtown Atlanta approaching, it is important for everyone, especially students, to be prepared for severe weather. For more emergency preparedness information, visit www.gatech.edu/emergency.