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Severe Weather Plans

Hosting an event at a public venue? Find your venue below to check out the severe weather plan.

Ah-Nab-Awen Park Severe Weather Plan

If you're planning an event at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, make sure to have a plan in place if there's severe weather. Keep track of the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service at your event. Having a plan in place helps keeps everyone safe at your event.

Seeking shelter 

The severe weather shelter for Ah-Nab-Awen Park is the Grand Rapids Public Museum Ramp. The ramp is south of Pearl Street on Front Avenue. To get to the shelter:

1. Travel south to Pearl Street
2. Cross Pearl Street and continue down Front Avenue to the parking ramp
3. The shelter area is on the first level of the parking garage

evacuation map

Event Coordinator

It's important to inform participants and event staff of the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator handles this and is the contact person for the event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform guests of a watch and update them hourly. The event will continue as conditions permit.

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado warning (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants and tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter.

Blue Bridge Severe Weather Plan

Every event held on the Blue Bridge needs a severe weather plan. Track the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service. Having a plan keeps everyone safe.

Seeking shelter

The shelter location for the Blue Bridge is the Louis/Campau Parking Ramp. It's located on the northwest corner of Monroe and Campau.

  1. Travel east towards downtown Grand Rapids
  2. Cross Campau Avenue to the ramp entrance on the west side of the building
  3. The shelter area is on the first level of the parking garage

blue bridge evacuation map

Event Coordinator

It's important to let participants and event staff know the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform guests of a watch and update them every hour. The event will continue as conditions permit. 

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado warning (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants. Tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter.

Calder Plaza Severe Weather Plan

Every event held at Calder Plaza needs a severe weather plan. Track the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service. Having a plan in place keeps everyone safe.

Seek shelter

The shelter location for Calder Plaza is the City/County Parking Ramp, directly below the plaza. To get to the ramp, take the stairs on the northeast or southeast side of the plaza. The shelter is the first level of the parking garage.

Calder Plaza evacuation map

Event Coordinator

It's important to let participants and event staff know the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform guests of a watch and update them every hour. The event will continue as conditions permit.

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado warning (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants. Tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter. 

Canal Street Park Severe Weather Plan

Any event held at Canal Street Park needs a severe weather plan. Track the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service. Having a plan in place keeps everyone safe.

Seeking Shelter

In case of severe weather, take shelter in the Canal Street Park bathroom building.

Canal Street evacuation map

Event Coordinator

It's important to let the guests and event staff know the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment necessary if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform participants of a watch and update them every hour. The event will continue as conditions permit.

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado warning (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants. Tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter. 

Gillett Bridge & Lyon Square Severe Weather Plan

Every event held on the Gillett Bridge & Lyon Square needs a severe weather plan. Track the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service. Having a plan in place keeps everyone safe.

Seeking shelter

Eastern side of the Gillett Bridge and Lyon Square

Is your event on the eastern side of this site? Seek shelter in the lower level of the DeVos Place Parking Ramp.

  1. Travel east towards downtown Grand Rapids
  2. Enter the ramp from the end of Lyon Street NW

 

Western side of the Gillett Bridge

Is your event on the western side of this site? Seek shelter is the first level of the Grand Rapids Public Museum Parking Ramp.

  1. Travel west towards the museum
  2. Continue south towards Pearl Street NW
  3. Cross Pearl Street
  4. Continue down Front Avenue NW to the parking ramp

Event Coordinator

It's important to let the participants and event staff know the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform guests of a watch and update them every hour. The event will continue as conditions permit.

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants. Tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter.

 

Heartside Park Severe Weather Plan

Every event held at Heartside Park needs a severe weather plan. Track the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service. Having a plan in place keeps everyone safe.

Seeking Shelter

The shelter location at Heartside Park depends on the number of guests.

Have less than 200 people? Take shelter in the park bathrooms.

Have more than 200 people? Take shelter in the first level of the Cherry/Commerce Parking Ramp. It's located on the northwest corner of Cherry and Commerce. Enter the ramp from the south.

Event Coordinator

It's important to let the participants and event staff know the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform guests of a watch and update them every hour. The event will continue as conditions permit.

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants. Tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter. 

Rosa Parks Circle Severe Weather Plan

Every event at Rosa Parks Circle needs a severe weather plan. Track the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service. Having a plan in place keeps everyone safe.

Seeking shelter

The shelter location for Rosa Parks Circle is the Monroe Parking Ramp. The ramp is located between the Louis and Ionia intersections

  1. Travel south to Louis Street
  2. Cross Ottawa to the ramp

Rosa Parks Circle evacuation map

Event Coordinator

It's important to let participants and event staff know the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform guests of a watch and update them every hour. The event will continue as conditions permit.

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado warning (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants. Tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter. 

Sixth Street Park Severe Weather Plan

Any event held at Sixth Street Park needs a severe weather plan. Track the weather with a hand held N.O.A.A. radio or the National Weather Service. Having a plan in place keeps everyone safe.

Seeking Shelter

In case of severe weather, take shelter in the Sixth Street Park bathroom building.

Sixth Street evacuatiion map

Event Coordinator

It's important to let the guests and event staff know the severe weather plan for your event. The Event Coordinator and/or Public Safety Officials may delay or cancel the event. Secure all equipment necessary if there's time.

Watch: Event continues

The National Weather Service issues a watch when a weather condition could get worse. The Event Coordinator will inform participants of a watch and update them every hour. The event will continue as conditions permit.

Warning: Stop event activities and take cover immediately

A severe weather warning occurs when severe weather has developed. A siren will sound for a tornado warning (but not for severe thunderstorm warnings). Announce the warning to staff, vendors, and participants. Tell them where to seek shelter. If there's lightning and no warning, seek shelter.