After a deadly night of tornadoes in Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky, Lyon College students are learning it pays to be prepared.

Strong storms may have missed the Lyon campus, but Union University, a TranSouth Athletic Conference rival, who was just at Lyon for two basketball games on Feb. 4, was hit hard. A tornado struck Union University in Jackson, Tenn., Feb. 5 destroying 40 percent of its residence facilities and heavily damaging an additional 40 percent. More than 50 students were treated for injuries, but no students were killed.

The National Weather Service is calling it the deadliest tornado outbreak in the United States in more than 20 years.

“This incident draws to mind the importance of being as prepared as possible when major storms are forecast and to take precautions (and respond to requests from campus officials and RLS staff members) promptly when storm warnings are announced,” said Dr. Bruce Johnston, Lyon College vice president for student life and dean of students.

The student handbook offers the following weather warnings and tips:

• Thunderstorm Watch — Indicates that conditions exist that could produce a thunderstorm. This is the mildest weather warning, but could be an indicator of worsening weather conditions. The announcement of a Watch will include the areas affected and the duration of the condition.

• Thunderstorm Warning — Indicates that a thunderstorm in imminent. A thunderstorm usually produces strong wind, lightning and heavy rain. As with a Watch, the area affected and the duration will be announced with the warning.

• Tornado Watch — Indicates that conditions exist that could produce a tornado. At the issuance of a Tornado Watch, Campus Safety will notify each department and Student Life of the existence of the Watch and the duration. Local radio stations should be monitored for changing conditions.

• Tornado Warning — Indicates that a tornado has been sighted. The warning will include the area affected and the projected path of the tornado. In the event of a Tornado Warning for the Batesville area everyone should move to a sheltered area of their building until the warning is over.

Independence County has installed warning sirens throughout Batesville and the surrounding area. The nearest siren is located at the maintenance building and can be heard all over campus.

The siren will sound for five minutes when a tornado warning is issued. The sirens will sound when a tornado warning is issued for any part of Independence County. While this does not necessarily affect the Lyon College area, weather channels on radio or television should be monitored to watch for changes in the storms path

The sirens will sound again for three minutes when the warning expires.

Stay away from windows and large rooms (such as Nucor Auditorium and Brown Chapel). If you are outside go to low ground. Lie down in a ditch if necessary. If you are driving do not try to run from the tornado. Park your car and seek shelter in a ditch or solid structure. Leave any room in which chemicals are used or stored, such as labs in Derby.

Designated Shelter Areas — by building, the following areas are the best places to be during a tornado:

• Nichols: Restrooms, dark room, vault and closets.

• Brown Chapel: Interior offices at the back of the chapel, first floor restrooms, and the Bevens Kitchen.

• Derby Science: Lower level interior hallway, storage rooms and restrooms.

• Alphin Building: Kresge Gallery, first floor hallways and restrooms.

• Lyon Building: First floor restrooms and hallways.

• Mabee/Simpson Library: Mail room and Media center, or lower hallways.

• Becknell Gym: Lower level offices, dressing rooms, and restrooms.

• Edwards Commons: Hallway between the game room and dining area, the hall behind the bookstore and the hall leading to the rear exit of the dining hall.

• Admissions: Interior hallways and restrooms.

• Holloway Theater: Interior hallways.

• Morrow Quad: The hallway outside the nurses’ office.

• Maintenance: Restrooms and interior hall.

• Spragins Hall: Lower level hallway.

• Love/Bryan/Blandford Halls: Lower level hallways and lowest level of the stairwells.

• Brown/Barton Apartments: Downstairs hallways and bathrooms.

• McRae/Wilson & Rogers: Ground floor hallways and bathrooms.

• Hoke/McCain: Ground floor hallways and restrooms.

• New Art Studio: Restroom and cleaning room on the northeast side of the studio.

• Scottish Heritage: Interior hallways.

Power outages often occur when storms hit the area. The following items could come in handy in the event of power loss on campus.

• Flashlight with extra batteries.

• Battery powered radio.

• Extra blankets.