Spotlight on Safety at Quartz Mountain

by Catherine Roberts, OSAI PR Counselor

On the first evening of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, about 350 students, faculty and staff—that’s the entire Quartz Mountain family—made an easy trip underground for an all-camp tornado drill.

A mechanical room under the Robert M. Kerr Performing Arts Center (PAC) boasts foot-thick concrete walls and plenty of space for keeping safe during an emergency.

“It’s a great safe location here should there ever be the need to use it,” said Julie Cohen, OAI President & CEO.

“Safety is a priority at the Arts Institute,” she explained, “and we have detailed plans in place. Because of the recent severe weather in Oklahoma, we wanted to make sure that our plan to take everyone to the PAC underground shelter would be successful.”

And so it was. From the seating in the PAC, all drill participants made it into the shelter in under nine minutes.

“Everyone did a great job,” Cohen said. “Everyone stayed quiet, and the students showed they took the drill seriously by being on their best behavior.”

During the week before students arrive, OSAI counselors receive training in safety procedures for both fire and severe weather emergencies. With these measures in place, the students have peace of mind and the freedom to focus all their energy on immersing themselves in their art. 

Staff, students and faculty head underground for an all-camp tornado drill.