Safety Procedures to Follow in the Event of Dangerous Weather Approaching Memorial Stadium and other Athletic Intramural Fields

PROCEDURE: Safety Procedures to Follow in the Event of Dangerous Weather Approaching Memorial Stadium and Other Athletic Intramural Fields

PURPOSE: Outline of steps to follow in the event of dangerous weather approaching Memorial Stadium

In the event of the threat of dangerous weather approaching Memorial Stadium or other Tarleton athletic facilities (i.e. lightning, hail, and tornadoes), the following procedures shall apply:

• The Tarleton Control Center operator will inform the contest administrator and chief law enforcement officer or designee of any threats and/or warnings that are provided by the National Weather Service or Emergency Response personnel.
• Activation of the city alert siren shall also serve as a signal for initiating emergency procedures.
• The contest administrator is responsible for providing a copy of this procedure to contest officials prior to the event. The contest administrator will notify contest officials of impending threatening weather conditions as reported to him/her by the Tarleton Control Center .
• Tarleton State University ’s Memorial Stadium is equipped with an automated lightning prediction system. When weather conditions are conducive for lightning, the automated lightning prediction system will sound one-15 second blast of the horn and a strobe light will begin flashing. The playing surface shall be evacuated immediately upon activation of the automated lightning prediction system. All participants and spectators should seek shelter immediately. The automated lightning prediction system provides an all-clear notification by sounding three-5 second blasts, and the strobe light will stop flashing.
• In case of other types of threatening weather conditions, the contest administrator may order audience evacuation. If that occurs, the chief law enforcement officer or designee shall supervise any evacuation of Memorial Stadium and the operation of the refuge locations.
• The contest administrator of an event held at other university athletic facilities will be responsible for ordering the evacuation of participants and spectators. The University Police will assist with any such evacuation.
• The basement area of Wisdom Gym is designated as a place of refuge.  The Thompson Student Center basement (east entrance) may serve as an additional place of refuge as needed. The University Police Department shall control operations at the refuge centers with assistance from staff from the Department of Athletics or Recreational Sports Department.
• The chief law enforcement officer or designee is responsible for determining when the weather threat is over and shall notify the event administrator and all refuge centers.
• The chief law enforcement officer or designee shall keep the Tarleton Control Center informed of all activities.
• The Department of Athletics and the Department of Intramural Sports have detailed information regarding their responsibilities and the operation of the automated lightning prediction system.

CONTACT OFFICE: Office of Risk Management and Safety