In the early hours of Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, Springfield was placed under a tornado warning. This was the first tornado warning of the school year. Some students were unsure of where the best place to take shelter on campus is. Drury University’s website shows a list of all the storm shelters on campus with a detailed description of where students should go if a tornado warning occurs if they are in each building.

Know where to go

Drury’s website states, “Students living in upstairs areas of College Park and Jefferson Park should go to the first-floor area of the lower apartment or foyer. Go to the bathroom or most center point of the first floor. If you are unable to gain access to the first-floor area, go to the College Park Community Center laundry room or restrooms.”

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For students living in Summit Park and University Suites, they “should proceed to the apartment on a lower level and seek shelter in an interior hallway. If unable to gain access, proceed to the lower level of Findlay Student Center. Students in Sunderland Hall should proceed to the first-floor interior hallway or Findlay Student Center. Smith and Wallace Hall should proceed to the basement laundry area,” says the website.

There are places to take shelter if you happen to be in class during a tornado warning too. It seems that in Springfield, tornado warnings only happen after midnight, but it is possible for a tornado to occur during the day. Should one happen, Drury also gives information on where to go in different buildings throughout campus.

Students should go to “the first floor hallway in Breach, the basement of Olin Library, down under in the FSC, the woodshop basement or the first floor restrooms in Hammons Architecture Building, the basement hallways in Lay Hall, the basement classrooms or hallway in Pearson, the first floor hallway of Springfield Hall and the basement area of the TSC,” explains the website.

Some other general guidelines to keeping safe during a tornado are staying away from windows and glass and keeping a flashlight on hand in case of a power outage. Many tornados occur in the fall in Missouri, so stay safe and be prepared!

Written by Marissa Mayfield.