By Joe Ragusa
NORMAL – Illinois State University has been honored as a StormReady University by the National Weather Service.
“Before severe weather strikes the campus, we do actively monitor conditions and storm spotter reports from towns and counties off to our west,” ISU emergency manager Eric Hodges said. “So we have some idea of what’s coming when severe weather approaches the western side of Bloomington-Normal.”
Hodges says the university is also part of a “situational awareness” collaboration with the National Weather Service.
“This is critical because it gives us direct access to emergency managers and meteorologists so again we have some idea of what’s heading our way,” Hodges said.
Hodges said ISU hasn’t needed its emergency operations center since the Washington tornado in 2013.
NWS meteorologist Chris Miller said the emergency response plans for Hancock Stadium and Redbird Arena stood out to him.
“They should be a model for similar facilities because (ISU) has done an amazing job at putting together these plans,” Miller said. “But also, letting people know that are attending events at these facilities what needs to be done in the case of a hazardous event.”
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is the only other Illinois university to earn the StormReady University distinction.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].
