Severe Weather Preparedness

Glossary of Terms

• Tornado/Thunderstorm/Wind “Watch”
  • Normal operations will continue.
  • Employees should keep a close eye on changing weather conditions and be prepared to take action when necessary.
• Tornado/Thunderstorm/Wind “Warning”
  • A hazardous condition has been spotted or identified on the radar.
  • When these conditions immediately threaten the campus, Champlain College may make notifications. (I.E. e-mail, web page, and or RAVE.)
• Blizzard “Warning”
  • Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and a considerable amount of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.

Tornado

• If inside: go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• Do not open windows.
• Call Campus Public Safety at (802)865-6465 or campus ext. 6465 to report any injuries, or property damage.
• If outside: lie flat in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.
• If in a vehicle: Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion.
• If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park.
• If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
• Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
• Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

Earthquake

• If indoors: Get under a sturdy desk or table and HOLD ON.
• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load bearing doorway.
• Stay away from glass, windows, light fixtures or anything else that could fall and injure you.
• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go back outside. DO NOT exit a building while it is shaking.
• DO NOT use elevators.
• If outdoors: MOVE AWAY from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires as most injuries occur as a result of falling debris.
• Stay there until the shaking stops.
• If in a moving vehicle, stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

Hurricane/Winter Weather Advisory/Snow

• Check for school closings on the Champlain College website, via e-mail and if deemed necessary via the RAVE mass notification system.