UPDATE:

From KCCI:

• Severe weather potential increasing across much of Iowa for Tuesday evening into Tuesday night.
• Tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds all possible!
• Prolonged period of gusty winds likely Tuesday through Thursday. Strongest winds Thursday, especially north.

Please review the tornado and wind warning procedure included below.

Tornado Warning and Wind Warning

A tornado WARNING is declared when a tornado had been sighted in the area.  The city’s tornado sirens will be activated.  A Straight Line Wind WARNING is declared when wind speeds reach 70 m.p.h.

Sirens will sound for approximately 3 minutes followed by a 2- to 3-minute silence and then sound again for another 3 minutes. This cycle will repeat until the threat has passed.

When the siren sounds:

• Announce the fact that we are under a Tornado Warning or Straight Line Wind Warning to staff and patrons and that they should move to the designated tornado shelter area (the men’s and women’s restrooms) or leave the library IMMEDIATELY.
• Public Services staff will gather patrons from the east half of the Library.
• Youth Services staff will gather patrons from the YS area including the Story Time room and YS restroom.
• One Circulation staff member will gather patrons from the Commons, Art Gallery, and Large Meeting Room
• The rest of the Circulation staff will lock the front door, put up the weather closure sign, and guide patrons to the restrooms
• A staff member from each department should grab the flashlights/lanterns from the emergency bucket behind their desk.
• If people come to the Commons doors seeking shelter, let them in.