The last time ISUPD prepared for a severe weather event was on Aug. 10, 2020, when a derecho devastated much of central and southern Iowa, killing four people and injuring many more.
ISUPD Assistant Chief Carrie Jacobs said the department prepared for the event by putting their patrol cars in a protected location and coordinating with the City of Ames and the ISU Power Plant in case they lost power.
Although they expected a storm with high winds, the severity of the event caught ISUPD by surprise.
“That one kind of snuck up on us,” Jacobs said. “We were responding to people who were stuck because trees had fallen on their cars and had fallen across campus.”
The spring season typically brings dangerous and life-threatening weather events to Iowa, like tornadoes, hail and extreme wind.
Jacobs said ISUPD and the National Weather Service coordinate with each other, as the NWS provides the dispatch center with frequent updates to ensure safety for people at Iowa State.
In a hypothetical severe weather situation, people walking around campus would be alerted by the numerous weather sirens scattered across the university. Students and faculty would also receive a text from ISU Alerts, and public safety officers would direct people where to take shelter, according to Jacobs.
ISUPD also has other procedures it takes to ensure campus safety.
“Sometimes, we may actually take spotter positions to see if the storm is coming,” Jacobs said. “Radar is wonderful, but we still have to be out and about in case more tornadoes pop up.”
All Iowa State residence halls have emergency plans posted on the doors, providing information about what to do during a severe weather warning.
“Interior spaces on the lower levels, away from exterior doors and windows, are generally the preferred locations for severe weather sheltering,” Greg Cross, an assistant safety director for the residence halls, said.
One of the most dangerous places a person can take shelter during a severe weather event is inside a vehicle, according to Jacobs.
“Tornadic winds can pick up a vehicle like it’s nothing and throw it,” Jacobs said. “Remember, your car and your property are replaceable, but you are not.”
Iowa State Environmental Health and Safety also has an emergency plan for people who live in mobile homes or vehicles during a severe weather warning.
“We will have buildings that will be open after hours to make sure our residents up in the SUV University Village can come down and shelter if they need to,” ISUPD Captain Sara Jensen said.
The severe weather season in Iowa can also extend late into the fall, according to Ready Iowa.
Retired Ames firefighter and current ISU Emergency Management Specialist Todd Moomaw recalled the 2005 “Tornado Game” at Jack Trice Stadium, where an EF-2 tornado touched down a few miles north of the stadium before a November game against Colorado.
Moomaw said he heard the warning over the radio on his way back to Ames from Des Moines. Although the fire department told Moomaw they did not need him, he never forgot about the potential catastrophe.
Moomaw now oversees the operations center at Jack Trice Stadium, coordinating with ISUPD to come up with safety plans for multiple scenarios, including severe weather.
“There are limited shelters around the stadium that some people could go to,” Moomaw said. “Our hope would be that people with limited mobility, whether they’re in a wheelchair or can’t walk as well, would get first priority.”
Due to the large number of people who go to football games, attendees are largely responsible for their own safety and are encouraged to drive away from the storm or find a building to shelter in, according to Moomaw.
Moomaw said people could use Hilton Coliseum, spaces around Reiman Gardens and Patterson Hall as viable shelter options.
Meredith Ponder Hanisch, the ISU Director of Communication and Marketing for Campus Life, asserts health and wellness as being the number one priority for the university.
“We communicate best practices regularly, like the ISU Alert that came through on April 14 that highlights spring weather awareness,” Hanisch said. “This is especially helpful for our students who didn’t grow up in Iowa or the Midwest, or folks who just want a refresher.”
Jensen said downloading a weather app and turning on the notification to track location would be the best advice she could give students and faculty who want to be aware of the weather.
