Severe Storm Spotting Team

The University has approximately 40 trained employees who comprise our Severe Storm Spotting Team. Each team member attended a storm spotting class with training materials provided by the National Weather Service. We are very proud that the entire University Police Department is trained and therefore readily available for storm spotting duty given their 24x7x365 presence on campus.

The team is activated when severe weather is imminent or occurring in or around the University campus area. Severe storm reports are provided to University Emergency Management via two-way radio who, in turn, shares those reports with McLean County Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service.

Our timely reports aide the National Weather Service in determining the issuance of severe thunderstorm, tornado and flash flood warnings.

When a tornado warning is issued for our area, the University will issue an ISU Emergency Alert to notify the campus community of approaching conditions and to advise everyone in the area to seek appropriate shelter.

The University Emergency Manager is the contact for the team.