Multiple schools will be on field trips at the Erie Zoo on Wednesday. Development Director Scott Mitchell said the zoo is prepared for severe weather.

They hold severe weather drills throughout the year. 

"It can be everything from snowstorms to tornadoes to floods. We do a different kind of drill for each of those," Mitchell said. 

While weather-related closures are rare, he said, they have happened. 

"We did close several times last year because of air quality which was a whole other issue," he said.

If a severe storm hits, they'll take people inside to buildings across the zoo. 

Zookeepers will take the smaller animals in crates. They'll try to move the bigger ones to a bedroom off their exhibit. 

"The leopards, the lynx and tiger...those buildings that they're in are really, really well built," he said. 

If the zookeepers can't get them to move on their own, they use what's called a recall system.

"They're special words that are said or special noises that are used. (The animals) get a very, very, very, very special treat. One they only get in a recall because it's an emergency," he said.

Some animals don't need moved. They're already inside because they could sense the storms were coming.

"Often times...the llamas and alpacas will go inside their building," Mitchell said.

"Sometimes the cats will react a little bit but most of them know it's coming before we do."