{"50748":{"#nid":"50748","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tech Readies for Severe Weather Awareness Week","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Emergency Preparedness Director Andy Altizer is reminded of events two years ago, underscoring that severe weather can strike anywhere. On March 14, 2008, a tornado struck the downtown area, damaging the Atlanta Civic Center and the Peachtree Plaza Hotel. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeb. 1 through Feb. 5 marks Severe Weather Awareness Week, when Georgia Tech Emergency Preparedness encourages the campus community to learn both response and preparedness procedures for all types of severe weather.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe best thing to do to protect yourself is to have a plan of action before a threatening tornado or other weather event develops,\u201d Altizer said. \u201cKnow what to do and where to go if there is a tornado warning.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute will conduct tests on both the Georgia Tech Emergency Notification System (GTENS) and the Siren Warning System at 11 a.m. on Feb. 4. Through all this preparation, Altizer also underscores the need for Tech community members to take the initiative in watching for ominous weather. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDon\u2019t depend on us to have enough time to alert you to sudden weather changes,\u201d he said. \u201cIf there is a chance of severe weather, pay attention and be prepared to take action.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpring thunderstorms in the Atlanta area bring not only the threat of tornadoes, but also the threat of lightning. \u201cIt may sound corny, but remember the saying, \u2018When thunder roars, go indoors,\u2019 and follow that advice,\u201d Altizer said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAltizer also advises faculty, staff and students to have an emergency supply kit. Ready Georgia, established by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, offers resources to make a kit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf a tornado were to strike campus, safety officials request everyone to stay indoors until the event passes. The situation will be updated through the Tech Police emergency notification Web page and the Inclement Weather Hotline (404-894-0500).\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Severe Weather Week to be observed February 1 to 5"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Preparedness gets ready for severe weather","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Preparedness gets ready for severe weather"}],"uid":"27191","created_gmt":"2010-01-29 17:17:09","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:04:16","author":"Robert Nesmith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2010-01-29T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2010-01-29T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/twitter.com\/GTPDAlerts","title":"Georgia Tech Police Department Tweets"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/emergency\/notification.html","title":"Georgia Tech Emergency Notification System"},{"url":"http:\/\/ready.ga.gov\/","title":"Ready Georgia"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.police.gatech.edu\/weather.htm","title":"SmartRAD Weather Alerts"},{"url":"http:\/\/www.alerts.gatech.edu\/","title":"Georgia Tech Emergency Notification Web Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"1183","name":"Home"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"3390","name":"Georgia Tech Police Department"},{"id":"4470","name":"Office of Emergency Preparedness"},{"id":"169297","name":"severe weather"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Police Department\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E404-894-2500\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}