OU Campus issues urgent tornado warning, orders campus to shelter as severe storms threaten central Oklahoma overnight.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, the University of Oklahoma in Norman issued a series of emergency tornado warnings, urging students and staff to seek immediate shelter.
The first alert was posted at 1:22 a.m. on the school’s official social media, instructing everyone on campus to “Seek shelter NOW inside the building you are in” and “Move to lowest floor/interior.”
The National Weather Service had been tracking the threat, with the Storm Prediction Center reporting several “discrete supercells” that had “matured within the open warm sector across OK.”
A tornado watch was in effect for central and eastern Oklahoma, as well as a small area of northwest Texas.
While the warning signs pointed to the potential for tornadoes, damaging winds up to 70 mph, and large hail up to 2 inches in diameter, the university acted swiftly to ensure the safety of its community.
Additional alerts were sent at 1:55 a.m. and 2:02 a.m. to reinforce the need for shelter.
By heeding the urgent warnings and taking cover, OU students and staff were able to weather the storm safely.
The prompt actions of the university administration demonstrated their commitment to prioritizing the well-being of the campus during severe weather events.
As the threat passed, the focus now shifted to the resilience and preparedness of the OU community in the face of unpredictable natural disasters.
The university’s decisive response serves as a model for how institutions can effectively protect their students and staff during times of emergency.