Severe Weather Alert for Thursday, Jan. 21

VALDOSTA -- The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration has issued a tornado watch for the counties in South Georgia including Lowndes, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, and Echols. The tornado watch is in effect until 4 p.m. (EST) today. A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area.

If a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected in the immediate area) is issued by the National Weather Service, Valdosta State University will post an emergency message on its main Web site at www.valdosta.edu and send an emergency message via the Campus Alert System (Blackboard Connect).

In the event of a tornado warning everyone is instructed to move immediately to the lowest level of a building and toward the center of the building -- interior classrooms, offices or corridors -- and away from windows. Remain there until the tornado warning has expired.

The Campus Alert System is the emergency notification method that Valdosta State University uses to notify students, faculty and staff who are registered for the Campus Alert System. The Campus Alert System will send out an e-mail (VSU email accounts) and phone message (to registered phone numbers) and a text message (if opted to receive).

To register or check your Campus Alert System status go to http://www.valdosta.edu/vsu/editalertinfo/ and follow the instructions. All faculty, staff and students are advised to register their phone numbers and contact information with VSU’s Campus Alert System to receive emergency updates.