Homeland Security Initiatives (HSI) and related awareness activities for All-Hazards Emergency Management are administered through the Office of the President, Tougaloo College. Tougaloo College advances an interdisciplinary approach to homeland security. All departments and sectors are included in activities designed to build, advance, and cultivate a homeland security presence within the college. A variety of on-going support services and training programs enhance the development and implementation of homeland security programs at Tougaloo College and in the community.
November is designated as Mississippi Tornado Awareness Month. This may be surprising to hear because we think of tornados as something to worry about during the spring months. However, since 1950 November has been the second most active month for tornados in the state of Mississippi. This means that our autumn months are as nearly as dangerous as the spring time. This is because of inconsistent weather patterns that cause an imbalance in temperatures and rising air, which creates natural storm occurrences such as tornadoes.
Mississippi has been affected several times in November by massive tornadoes. Two of the most violent to ever hit the state was on November 21 and 22 of 1992. Those tornadoes included a 128 mile long F4 tornado that killed 12 people in Rankin County, Mississippi.
Emergency Management is about taking a proactive approach to awareness and preparedness. Here are several tips to consider during the month of November when dealing with a tornado:
Monitor a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio for the latest news. (These radios can be purchased at most major retailers)
Be aware of tornado warning signals either through radio or weather station alerts or warning sirens.
In case of a Tornado warning take cover! Avoid windows and go to the lowest floor possible. Cover yourself with blankets or mattresses to protect from falling debris.
If not at home, go to an enclosed windowless area, crotch down, and cover your head.
If in a car, get out and seek shelter. If no shelter is available, lie flat, face down, on low ground and protect the back of your head with your arms.
Do not panic -- act quickly!
October 2011 is Cyber Security Month
It seems that everything relies on computers and the internet now — communication
(email, cell phones), entertainment (digital cable, mp3s), transportation (car engine
systems, airplane navigation), shopping (online stores, credit cards), medicine
(equipment, medical records), and the list goes on. How much of your daily life relies on
computers? How much of your personal information is stored either on your own
computer or on someone else's system?
Cyber security involves protecting that information by preventing, detecting, and
responding to attacks.
Homeland Security Initiatives (HSI) and related awareness activities for All-Hazards Emergency Management are administered through the Office of the President, Tougaloo College. Tougaloo College advances an interdisciplinary approach to homeland security. All departments and sectors are included in activities designed to build, advance, and cultivate a homeland security presence within the college. A variety of on-going support services and training programs enhance the development and implementation of homeland security programs at Tougaloo College and in the community. 
