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A.6 Severe Plan Creation Date: 05/22/2009 Revised Date: 06/10/2015 Emergency Response Plan Review Date: 7/3/2017 Page 1 of 10

BU ERP A.6 PLAN

1.0 Purpose

1.1 The purpose of this Severe Weather Response Plan is to minimize the impact on the University from a severe weather incident

2.0 Applicability

2.1 This Severe Weather Plan applies to all students, faculty, staff and contractors of University

3.0 Assumptions

3.1 Living in New England, we are susceptible to severe weather, usually in the form of and , Nor’easters, and hurricanes. It is not unusual to experience periods of extreme hot and cold temperatures. 3.2 In the case of all such possibilities, modern has allowed us to have advance warnings. 3.3 With such warnings, the University will be able to take such steps necessary to minimize the effect of a severe weather incident 3.4 The one severe weather incident that may occur without much warning is a or microburst. While the region has experienced such events in the past, they are not rated as having a high probability in the city of Boston.

4.0 Definitions:

4.1 The following are criteria for issuing Watches/ Advisories and Warnings: 4.1.1 Watches: 50% confidence of meeting Warning criteria (generally within 36-48+ hours) 4.1.2 Advisories and Warnings; 80% confidence in the event of occurrence (generally within 24 – 36 hours)

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4.2 Winter WATCH – issued by the National Weather Service when there is a potential for heavy or significant accumulations, usually at least 24 to 36 hours in advance. The criteria for this watch can vary from place to place. 4.3 WARNING – issued by the National Weather Service when a winter storm is producing or is forecast to produce heavy snow or significant ice accumulations. The criteria for this warning can vary from place to place. 4.4 WARNING – Issued for winter storms with sustained or frequent of 35 mph or higher with considerable falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to 1/4 of a mile or less. These conditions are expected to prevail

for a minimum of 3 hours. 4.5 Severe Weather - a severe as having large , at least 3/4 inches (0.75 inches) in diameter, and/or damaging winds, at least 58 mph, or 50 knots. 4.6 Severe Thunderstorm WATCH - when conditions are favorable for the development of severe over a large area. You should go about your normal business, but pay close attention to the weather. 4.7 Severe Thunderstorm WARNING - when its state-of-the-art doppler radar indicates that a severe storm is imminent or occurring, or if a timely, reliable report of large hail (1” in diameter) or damaging winds has been received. You should seek immediate shelter until the storm has passed

4.8 Microburst - a sudden rush of cool air toward the ground that can impact with speeds greater than 70 mph and produce damage similar to that of a tornado. Viewing the damage from the air does not reveal evidence of a twisting motion or convergence toward a central track, like it would for a tornado 4.9 Hurricanes - A tropical system in which the maximum sustained surface is 64 knots (74 mph) or greater. This is the worst and strongest of all tropical systems. 4.10 Hurricane Watch - An announcement for specific areas that hurricane conditions pose a possible threat to coastal areas within 36 hours. In New England, due to

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the rapid acceleration of most of our hurricanes, it is a necessity that you take action during the watch. 4.11 Hurricane Warning - A warning that hurricane conditions, including sustained winds of 74 mph or greater, associated with a hurricane are expected in a specified coastal area within 24 hours or less. Any preparedness measures must be rushed to completion once the warning is issued. High winds and will develop many hours before the eye of the storm actually comes ashore. 4.12 Tornado - a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending to the thunderstorm base. It can be a few yards across to a mile wide 4.13 – Heat Advisory is defined as when the daytime falls between 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 104 degrees Fahrenheit for two or more hours. 4.14 - heat wave is defined as three or more days of temperatures equal to or greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

5.0 Notifications

5.1 Boston University’s Director of (DEM) will be notified in advance of any possible severe weather incident. This notification may come in the form of National Weather Alerts, NOAA Warnings, or alerts from Boston and Massachusetts Emergency Management Personnel. 5.2 The DEM will notify the appropriate members of the BU Incident Command Response Team of the possible severe weather incident and to take appropriate actions.

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6.0 Roles and Responsibilities 6.1 DEM – monitor National Weather Service daily forecasts and alerts as well as NOAA weather radio for severe weather. Upon receipt of such alerts, notify appropriate NEIDL and BU staff and make recommendations for action. 6.2 Facilities Operations Staff – upon notification of severe weather, take appropriate actions to secure the University’s buildings and grounds. The Facilities Operations Director will ensure that proper staff coverage exists prior to severe weather occurring, whenever possible. 6.3 Research Safety – upon notification of severe weather, notify Principal Investigators to secure lab work and hazardous materials as described in the document “Laboratory Preparation to Natural Disasters”. 6.4 BU ASC Staff – upon notification of severe weather, take appropriate actions to secure the Animal Holding Spaces. The BU ASC Operations Director will ensure that proper staff coverage exists prior to severe weather occurring, whenever possible. 6.5 Control Center Technicians – The Control Center Technicians will monitor the NOAA Weather Radio for Weather Alerts and report all alerts to the DERP The Control technicians will monitor all BAS and report all problems to the Facilities Operations Director or Manager.

7.0 Procedures 7.1 Upon receipt of a severe weather alert, the Director of Emergency Management shall send an alert to the BU Incident Commanders and based upon their direction, develop an incident action plan. 7.2 Depending upon the time to impact, the incident action plan should address mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery issues. 7.3 The DEM will create an incident on WebEOC for incident management.

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7.4 At the conclusion of the severe weather event, the DEM shall convene a meeting of BU ICRT, or their designees, for a final After Action Report Report on the severe weather event. 7.5 Upon the receipt of a report of weather related damage, the DEM or designee, the Facilities Control Desk personnel, Control Technicians and BUPD dispatchers shall notify the NWS Taunton via telephone (508.823.2228) of the specific damage in real time. This damage includes: 7.5.1 Trees/large limbs blown down 7.5.2 Power poles blown down 7.5.3 Any other wind damage (broken windows, roofs blown off, etc.) 7.5.4 Hail, even as small as a pea. Specify size. 7.5.5 Tornadoes or funnel 7.5.6 Flooding (more than just the usual underpass)

8.0 Key References and Resources

8.1 BU Emergency Response Plan 8.2 ASC Emergency Response Plans 8.3 Residence Life SOP for Heat Advisory 8.4 Residence Life SOP for Heat Wave 8.5 NWS Warnings and Advisories for Southern New England (see attachment A)

9.0 ERP Revision History

Version Section / Paragraph Changes Made Effective Changed Date

V.1 N/A None, Original Version 5/22/2009

V.2 Throughout Reformatted 05/02/14

V.3 Sections 4.12 and Added definitions for Heat Advisory and 6/24/2014 4.13 Heat Wave

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V.4 Sections 8.3 and 8.4 Referenced ORL SOPs for Heat Advisory and Heat Wave

V.5 Throughout Changed Emergency response Planning 6/10/2015 to Emergency Management

V.5 Section 6.3 Added wording that Research Safety 6/10/2015 should work with PIs to ensure labs and hazardous materials are secured as described in referenced document

V.6 Section 4.1 Added Definitions on NWS Criteria 6/21/2016

V.6 Section 4.7 Changed diameter of hail to 1” 6/21/2016

V.6 Section 7.1 Added verbiage to have IAP developed 6/21/2016 based direction from Incident Commander.

V.6 Section 7.5 Added section on reporting storm related 6/21/2016 damage to NWS Taunton.

V.6 Section 8.5 Added document NWS Warnings and 6/21/2016 Advisories for Southern New England as a Key Reference

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Attachment A NWS WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND (Last Updated: December 4, 2015)

The following are National Weather Service criteria for issuing Watches/Warnings/Advisories: Watches: 50% confidence of meeting Warning criteria (generally within 36-48+ hours). Advisories and Warnings: 80% confidence in the event occurrence (generally within 24-36 hours).

TYPE OF ISSUANCE WHEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY More than one predominant hazard • Winter weather event having more than one predominant hazard (ie., snow and ice, snow and sleet, or snow, ice & sleet) meeting or exceeding advisory criteria for at least one of the elements, but remaining below warning criteria. Snow, Ocean Effect Snow, and/or Sleet • 3 inches averaged over a forecast zone in 12 hours (except 4 inches in Berkshire/Litchfield Counties) Snow and Blowing Snow • Sustained or frequent gusts of 25 to 34 mph accompanied by falling and blowing snow occasionally reducing visibility to ≤ 1/4 mile for ≥ 3 hours ` Blowing Snow • Widespread or localized blowing snow reducing visibility to ≤ ¼ mile with winds < 35 mph Black Ice • A Special Weather Statement will usually be issued when sufficient moisture is expected to cause a thin layer of ice on road surfaces, typically on cloudless nights (“black ice”). At forecaster discretion a formal may be issued instead.

FREEZING ADVISORY Any accretion of or freezing on road surfaces

WIND CHILL ADVISORY index between -15°F and -24°F for at least 3 hours using only the sustained wind

WINTER More than one predominant hazard • Winter weather event having more than one predominant hazard {ie. heavy snow and blowing snow (below blizzard conditions), snow and ice, snow and sleet, sleet and ice, or snow, sleet and ice} meeting or exceeding warning criteria for at least one of the precipitation elements. Snow, Ocean Effect Snow, or Sleet • 6 inches averaged over a forecast zone in a 12 hour period (except 7 inches in Berkshire and Litchfield Counties) • 8 inches averaged over a forecast zone in a 24 hour period

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(except 9 inches in Berkshire and Litchfield Counties) Sustained winds or frequent gusts ≥ 35 mph AND considerable falling and/or blowing snow frequently reducing visibility < ¼ mile for ≥ 3 hours (Blizzard conditions need to be the predominant condition over a 3 hour period)

ICE STORM WARNING ½ inch or greater accretion of freezing rain in any zone

WIND CHILL WARNING Wind chill index ≤ -25°F for at least 3 hours using only sustained wind

WIND ADVISORY Sustained winds 31-39 mph (27-34 kts) for at least 1 hour; OR any gusts to 46-57 mph (40-49 kts)

HIGH WIND WARNING Sustained winds ≥ 40 mph (≥ 35 kts) for at least 1 hour; OR any gusts ≥ 58 mph (≥ 50 kts)

TROPICAL STORM WARNING Sustained winds 39-73 mph (34-63 kts) (no gust criteria) associated with a tropical storm expected to affect a coastal or inland zone within 36 hours

HURRICANE WARNING Sustained winds ≥ 74 mph (≥ 64 kts) (no gust criteria) associated with a hurricane expected to affect a coastal or inland zone within 36 hours

EXTREME WIND WARNING Short-fused warning for onset of extreme winds, defined as sustained at 111+ mph (equivalent to a Category 3+ hurricane). This is typically used for the approach of the eyewall of a major landfalling hurricane.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY Sustained winds or frequent gusts 25-33 kts (> 2 hrs) AND/OR Seas ≥ 5 feet within 24 hours (marine only)

GALE WARNING Sustained winds or frequent gusts 34-47 kts (> 2 hrs) within 24 hrs from a non-tropical system (marine only)

STORM WARNING Sustained winds or frequent gusts 48-63 kts (> 2 hrs) within 24 hours from a non-tropical system (marine only)

HURRICANE FORCE Sustained winds or frequent gusts ≥ 64 kts (> 2 hrs) within WIND WARNING 24 hours from a non-tropical system (marine only)

SPECIAL MARINE WARNING Brief/sudden occurrence of sustained wind or frequent gusts ≥ 34 kts, usually associated with thunderstorms, AND/OR hail ≥ ¾” in diameter; also issued for

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM Thunderstorms with wind gusts ≥ 58 mph (≥ 50 kts) WARNING AND/OR hail ≥ 1” (quarter size) in diameter

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TORNADO WARNING Likelihood of a tornado within the given area based on radar or actual sighting; usually accompanied by conditions indicated above for "Severe Thunderstorm Warning" ADVISORY Expected inundation by water of some low lying and poor drainage areas, resulting in a nuisance to the public but not a threat to life and property.

FLASH Rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within a short timeframe from the onset of heavy rain. A dam or levee failure, or water released from an ice jam is also considered.

FLOOD WARNING Expected overflow or inundation by water which causes or will cause damage and/or a threat to life.

RIVER FLOOD WARNING Water level at a River Forecast point along a main stem river (such as the Merrimack, Nashua or Charles) is expected to reach or exceed flood stage.

COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY Minor coastal flooding expected. Examples include: splashover that causes a few roads to be briefly impassable, standing water in parking lots, etc.

COASTAL FLOOD WARNING Widespread serious (moderate or major) coastal flooding is expected to damage property AND/OR pose a threat to life.

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING Daytime heat indices of ≥ 105°F for 2 or more hours HEAT

ADVISORY Daytime heat indices of 100ºF-104ºF for 2 or more hours

HEAT WAVE Issued for non-criteria warning/advisory heat. A heat wave is defined as 3 or more days of ≥ 90ºF temperatures.

DENSE ADVISORY Widespread visibility ≤ 1/4 mile for at least 3 hours

FREEZING FOG ADVISORY Very light ice accumulation from predominantly fog at or below freezing temperatures

FROST ADVISORY Issued under clear, light wind conditions with forecast minimum shelter temperature 33-36ºF during growing

FREEZE WARNING When minimum shelter temperature drops to < 32ºF during growing season

HIGH SURF ADVISORY When high surf poses a danger to life in the form of rip currents or breaking seas. Generally issued when 7+ foot incoming seas reported at the buoys from Memorial Day through September.

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RED FLAG WARNING High degree of confidence that dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger within 24 hours using the following criteria as a guide: • Winds sustained or with frequent gusts ≥ 25 mph • Relative at or below 30% anytime during the day • Rainfall amounts for the previous 5 days less than 0.25 inches (except 3 days in pre-greenup) • after an extended dry period • Significant dry frontal passage • Dry thunderstorms • Keetch-Byram Drought Index values of 300 or greater ( only)

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