How Safe Is Your School’s How Safe Is Your School’s Tornado Emergency Plan?Tornado Emergency Plan?

Andrea Dawn MelvinAndrea Dawn Melvin

Oklahoma Climatological SurveyOklahoma Climatological Survey

National Symposium on the Great Plains Tornado Outbreak of 3 May 1999

1 May 2000

Based on Findings from:Based on Findings from:

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, 1999: Oklahoma/Southern Kansas Administration, 1999: Oklahoma/Southern Kansas Tornado Outbreak of May 3, 1999. Tornado Outbreak of May 3, 1999. Service Service AssessmentAssessment. Silver Spring, MD.. Silver Spring, MD.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1999: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1999: Oklahoma and Kansas Midwest Tornadoes of May 3, Oklahoma and Kansas Midwest Tornadoes of May 3, 1999 Observations, Recommendations, and 1999 Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance. Technical Guidance. Building Performance Building Performance Assessment ReportAssessment Report. Washington, D.C.. Washington, D.C.

The Tornado Safety Rules The Tornado Safety Rules Everyone RemembersEveryone Remembers

Move into interior rooms or hallways on Move into interior rooms or hallways on the lowest floor.the lowest floor.

Avoid gymnasiums, cafeterias, and Avoid gymnasiums, cafeterias, and auditoriums.auditoriums.

Cover your head with blankets, pillows Cover your head with blankets, pillows or mattresses.or mattresses.

Eastlake Elementary, Moore, Eastlake Elementary, Moore, OklahomaOklahoma

Glazed sidelight at classroom Glazed sidelight at classroom entranceentrance

Northmoor Elementary place of refuge, Moore, Northmoor Elementary place of refuge, Moore, Oklahoma – corridor with clerestory windows. This Oklahoma – corridor with clerestory windows. This corridor offers little protection from tornadoes as corridor offers little protection from tornadoes as

shown in a school of similar design in the next slide.shown in a school of similar design in the next slide.

Kelly Elementary School, Moore, Oklahoma, place of Kelly Elementary School, Moore, Oklahoma, place of refuge – corridor with clerestory windows. These interior refuge – corridor with clerestory windows. These interior

corridor walls had brick masonry up to a height of corridor walls had brick masonry up to a height of approximately 7 ft. Glass extended from the top of the approximately 7 ft. Glass extended from the top of the

brick masonry to the top of the wall.brick masonry to the top of the wall.

Sooner Rose Elementary School, Midwest City, Sooner Rose Elementary School, Midwest City, Oklahoma. According to the tornado plan for this Oklahoma. According to the tornado plan for this school, this hallway is designated as a place of school, this hallway is designated as a place of

refuge.refuge.

The non-reinforced interior CMU walls in this area of The non-reinforced interior CMU walls in this area of Kelly Elementary collapsed after the roof system Kelly Elementary collapsed after the roof system

was removed by vortex winds of a violent tornado.was removed by vortex winds of a violent tornado.

Collapsed roof structure and exterior wall Collapsed roof structure and exterior wall at Kelly Elementary School in Moore, at Kelly Elementary School in Moore,

Oklahoma, struck by the vortex of a violent Oklahoma, struck by the vortex of a violent tornado.tornado.

Damage to interior and exterior Damage to interior and exterior unreinforced masonry walls when bond unreinforced masonry walls when bond

beams failed at Kelly Elementary School in beams failed at Kelly Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma. Moore, Oklahoma.

Damaged door most likely opened by Damaged door most likely opened by impact with heavy object. Kelly Elementary impact with heavy object. Kelly Elementary

School, Moore, Oklahoma.School, Moore, Oklahoma.

Narrow Entrances to SheltersNarrow Entrances to Shelters

Windows in BasementWindows in Basement

Keeping Your School SafeKeeping Your School Safe

Develop a severe weather plan.Develop a severe weather plan. Have frequent drills. Have frequent drills. Have a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning Have a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning

alarm and a battery back-up to receive alarm and a battery back-up to receive warnings.warnings.

Know the county/parish where the school is Know the county/parish where the school is located and surrounding counties.located and surrounding counties.

Rule: Develop a Severe Rule: Develop a Severe Weather Action Plan.Weather Action Plan.

Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums and any cafeteria with large Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums and any cafeteria with large unreinforced walls. unreinforced walls.

Special provisions should be made for disabled students and Special provisions should be made for disabled students and those in portable or temporary classroom facilities.those in portable or temporary classroom facilities.

Plan for all situations, including arrival, lunch, recess, departure Plan for all situations, including arrival, lunch, recess, departure times, field trips, sporting events, and special ceremonies.times, field trips, sporting events, and special ceremonies.

Know how much time you need to implement your severe Know how much time you need to implement your severe weather plan.weather plan.

If threatening weather is anticipated, keep children at school If threatening weather is anticipated, keep children at school beyond regular hours. Cancel lunches or large assemblies.beyond regular hours. Cancel lunches or large assemblies.

Provide parents with copies of action plan and designate a Provide parents with copies of action plan and designate a place for reuniting with their children. place for reuniting with their children.

Rule: Have a NOAA Weather Radio Rule: Have a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm and a battery with a warning alarm and a battery

back-up to receive warnings.back-up to receive warnings.

Track the storm movement from weather Track the storm movement from weather bulletins using a highway map.bulletins using a highway map.

Understand the criteria for each type of watch Understand the criteria for each type of watch and warning.and warning.

Be aware that storms intensify rapidly and Be aware that storms intensify rapidly and tornadoes can form before a Tornado tornadoes can form before a Tornado Warning is issued (e.g, during a Severe Warning is issued (e.g, during a Severe Thunderstorm Watch).Thunderstorm Watch).

Be Alert to changing conditions.Be Alert to changing conditions.

Reasons for Updating Your School’s Reasons for Updating Your School’s Tornado Emergency PlanTornado Emergency Plan

Plan created when building was constructed.Plan created when building was constructed. Interior of building has been remodeled or Interior of building has been remodeled or

repaired.repaired. Portable classrooms added to school.Portable classrooms added to school. Local, state, or federal building codes have Local, state, or federal building codes have

been updated.been updated. Plan was last updated more than 5 years ago.Plan was last updated more than 5 years ago. Significant storm occurred near school but Significant storm occurred near school but

school was not affected.school was not affected.

School’s Must Have

A NOAA Weather Radio,

a Tornado Emergency Plan,

and a Means for Notifying Building Occupants to Activate the Emergency Plan.

Cardinal RuleCardinal Rule