Purdue StormReady recertification part of campus safety efforts

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University has continued its efforts to ensure campus safety, in this case, focusing on dangerous weather situations.

The National Weather Service in late January recertified the university as a StormReady university.

"The certification means that Purdue is meeting a set of standards to be able to warn people of dangerous or violent weather, whether it's a severe storm with potential for tornadoes, flooding, excessive snow or cold, or even extreme heat," said Ron Wright, director of Purdue's Emergency Preparedness and Planning Office. "In order for the university community to be prepared, we must keep it informed about the potential for bad weather and how to respond."

Storm Ready guidelines include having National Weather Service information available around the clock and the ability to disseminate it quickly and at any time to the community, and to be able to activate local warning systems.

Purdue emergency preparedness officials also have the advantage of working with earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences professor Michael Baldwin and his students. Baldwin teaches a class called NOFEAR – Nearly Operational Forecasting Experience and Reporting – and the approximately 15 students and Baldwin provide forecasting information throughout the year.

"Part of the StormReady philosophy is keeping aware of the current weather and forecasts," Baldwin said. "We send along our forecasting information to Emergency Preparedness, especially for outdoor events such as football games. But we do so at other times, too. We also work with other campus entities such as Buildings and Grounds and Purdue Athletics."

Purdue was first certified StormReady in 2010. The recertification will last six years before the university must reapply. A map of StormReady sites is available.

The weather certification is another step in the efforts toward a safe and secure campus. Purdue's police department was recertified in December by the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, meaning it meets the highest law enforcement standards. 

Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu 

Contacts: Ron Wright, 765-494-0446, rdwright@purdue.edu

Michael Baldwin, 765-494-0345, Baldwin@purdue.edu