Do you know what to do during severe weather?
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 6, 2025) — It’s Kentucky Severe Weather Awareness week. This is a good time to review what to do in the event of severe weather and update your UK Alert preferences in MyUK.
In the event of severe weather like high winds, severe thunderstorms or tornadoes, it’s important to have a plan. Here are some essential severe weather reminders:
If inside:
- Remain calm.
- Protect yourself from lighting and flying debris — seek shelter immediately.
- Move to the lowest level of the building or designated shelter area indicated on the emergency floor plan posted in your building.
- If you cannot move to the lowest level, or are on the lowest level, move to an interior room or hallway and avoid outside doors or windows. If possible, shelter under sturdy furniture.
- Do not use elevators; use stairwells instead.
If outside:
- Remain calm.
- Seek indoor shelter if possible.
- If you cannot get indoors, find low ground, lie down and cover your head.
- Never use overpasses as cover, and do not open car windows.
If a UK Alert is issued, you should stop what you are doing and follow the situational instructions.
What’s the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
- Tornado watch: A tornado watch or a severe thunderstorm watch indicates a high likelihood of dangerous weather, but there is no immediate danger.
- A watch signals that you should begin thinking about what actions you may need to take if conditions escalate.
- Be prepared to act quickly if a warning is issued.
- Tornado warning: A tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning indicates that dangerous weather is imminent or in progress.
- Severe thunderstorm warning: Minimize your exposure to exterior windows and doors. Remain indoors. Severe thunderstorms can generate tornadoes, so be prepared to act quickly if conditions escalate.
- Tornado warning: Immediately take cover in the nearest severe weather shelter area in your building.
Severe Weather Shelter Areas
These areas are marked with signs in each building on campus. If it is unavailable or full, take shelter in an interior room or hallway on a lower level.
UK Alert preferences
In the event of an emergency, you will be notified via UK Alert. UK Alert sends messages via email, text, phone call, building alarm systems, digital signage, social media and broadcasts from the Blue Emergency Towers.
All UK students, faculty and staff receive UK Alerts through email. To ensure you receive them through text and phone call, update your preferences in MyUK.
In an emergency, always dial 911. For nonemergencies, call the UK Police Department at 859-257-8573.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.