UPDATE: Tornado WATCH has been cancelled for Baylor-Waco Campus, City of Waco, McLennan County, Texas

11:58 AM UPDATE: TORNADO WATCH CANCELLED

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has cancelled the Tornado Watch at 11: 58 am CT.  

10:15 AM UPDATE: TORNADO WATCH ISSUED

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado WATCH for Central Texas, including the Baylor University-Waco campus, the City of Waco and McLennan County, Texas effective until 5 pm CDT (Saturday, Dec. 28).

A Tornado WATCH means that tornadoes – along with damaging winds and hail – are possible in and near the watch area.

Be Weather Ready!

As you remain aware of today’s severe weather possibility, we ask that you stay Weather Ready by reviewing and discussing your emergency plans so you can quickly take proactive actions in the event of an emergency. Baylor’s tornado safety procedure guide is available here.

Actions you can take NOW include:

• Check your supplies, make sure your phone is charged, and identify and check the safe space in your home, apartment or residence hall.
• If you live in a Baylor residence hall, make sure you know where your Severe Weather Assembly Area is in your hall. These areas are identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout each building and also available via an online map.
• Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching.

If a Tornado WARNING is issued:

There are multiple ways the City of Waco, McLennan County and Baylor University alert their respective communities of an approaching tornado AND the actions you should take immediately:

• Tornado Sirens: 

  The City of Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management and Baylor University will activate outdoor tornado sirens during a tornado warning or if a tornado is imminent.

• Baylor Alert Emergency Notification System

  Baylor also will activate its multi-tiered Baylor Alert emergency notification system during a tornado warning or if a tornado is imminent. It will provide the action(s) you need to take immediately, including seeking shelter indoors and moving to the safe space in your home/apartment or designated weather assembly area in your campus residence hall.

  The Baylor Alert system includes:

  • Outdoor Notification System (Tornado sirens, Main Waco Campus Only)
  • Baylor Alert email notification to Baylor email account (from baylor@email.getrave.com)
  • Baylor Alert text message to cellphone
  • Audio message (if needed) to a cellphone or other telephone
  • Notices on Baylor’s main website (www.baylor.edu)
  • Official Baylor social media channels: Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram
  • The Baylor Information Line audio recording at 254-710-4411. 

• Local media, weather radios and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

Safety Procedures:

Indoors

• Seek shelter immediately on a ground floor, in an interior room.
  • Severe Weather Assembly Areas in each Baylor Waco campus building are identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout each building and available via an online map.
• Do not use elevators.
• Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
• Avoid wide-span roof areas such as auditorium, gymnasium, dining hall and large hallways.

Residence Halls

• Residence Hall Directors and available staff will gather all residents to the Severe Weather Assembly Areas (identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout the facility).
• Residents should bring blankets for protection from debris.
• Remain in the Severe Weather Assembly Areas until the tornado passes, and an All Clear is issued via Baylor Alert.

Outdoors

• Seek indoor shelter, if possible.
• Parked motor vehicles are unsafe.
• If indoor shelter is not available and there is not time for escape, lie flat in a ditch or low spot.
• If you are on a flat ground and are caught in the path of a tornado, always move at right angles to its path.

Individuals with mobility/impairments or physical disabilities:

Supervisory personnel and course instructors are responsible for identifying and escorting individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities located in their offices/facilities or classrooms to safety in the event of a tornado warning.

The elevators may be used to transport individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities and their escorts to a safer location. Visually impaired and hearing-impaired individuals may be escorted down the stairs but may require assistance in moving in crowded staircases and in finding a safer location.

In the event of a power failure, individuals who are unable to use the stairs and their escorts should move to an interior location without windows and call the Baylor University Police Department (254-710-2222) who will notify the appropriate emergency personnel with the location.