Whatever the Weather: Preparation Key for Spring

Spring is upon us. In Texas, that means being prepared for drastic changes in weather, including severe storms.

“When storms are immanent, be prepared,” said Emergency Management Director Sean Taylor. “This includes knowing where to get accurate information and knowing what to do in an emergency.”

Taylor recommends always having multiple ways of receiving alerts. For someone on the TCU campus, this might mean tuning into TCU Alerts, but also having a weather app on your smart phone or a news station on your car radio presets so information can be accessed quickly in various situations.

If severe weather should arise, seek shelter, preferably in small, interior spaces.

“In general, stay away from windows and glass, and try and put as many walls as possible between you and the outside of your building,” Taylor said.

Also, know your building’s safety locations. These are good to know ahead for frequented spaces, but the map is also available on-the-go by downloading the FrogShield app.

Traditionally, the National Weather Service issues two types of severe weather notices: watch and warning. A severe thunderstorm/tornado watch indicates a tornado or severe thunderstorm is possible until a set time, and Horned Frogs should monitor the weather and be prepared to seek shelter.

A severe thunderstorm/tornado warning indicates a tornado or severe thunderstorm has been detected by either sight or radar, and Horned Frogs should seek shelter immediately.