If an actual tornado warning has been issued for your county, an immediate "Call to Action" is needed. Statewide tornado drill kicks off Severe Weather Preparedness - YouTube Long-span buildings, such as malls, theaters, and gyms, are especially dangerous because the roof is usually supported only by the outside walls. What should go into a successful tornado drill for your family, business. way as you are told. Yd^gM(dfb/DDtKFe\xxZQ%*z5Im+Y\98? While waiting for emergency personnel to arrive, carefully render aid to those who are injured. If you shop frequently at certain stores, learn where there are bathrooms, storage rooms or other interior shelter areas away from windows, and the shortest ways to get there. Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. hour, or 440 feet (134 m) per second. glass. However, in some large schools, there may not be enough time to direct all occupants of the upper floors into safe areas, or enough space in those lowest-floor safe areas to hold everyone. The goal is to ensure citizens have practiced and understand the appropriate steps to take to save lives and protect their businesses, coworkers and families during this type of natural disaster, Caldwell said. If you spot a tornado that is far away, seek shelter and help alert others to the tornado by immediately reporting it to the newsroom of a local radio or TV station. PDF 10 TIPS FOR KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN A TORNADO - Save The Children USA Therefore, if a tornado warning is issued, everyone will know what to do and have experience taking shelter. "Tornado Preparedness Tips for School Administrators", If the school's alarm system relies on electricity, have a compressed
Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for: In a house with a basement:
When developing your plan, keep in mind certain factors, such as the different ages of family members, your pets or service animals, the dietary and medical needs of your household members including prescriptions and equipment. tornado drill or warning, they should be instructed to respond to a specific command . In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Illustrations showing the protective position should be posted on bulletin boards. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Be alert to the changing weather conditions. Beach Forecast Tips for avoiding injury: completely close all inside doors, lock all outside doors, wearing sturdy shoes or boots, a helmet, long sleeves, gloves, and a heavy quilt or coat can offer extra protection from shards of glass, splinters and other airborne objects. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. of Health . <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 11 0 R 12 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>>
Please Contact Us. Tornadoes can also accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. PDF Tornado Drill Exercise Plan (ExPLAN) - Purdue University Please select one of the following: Map of NOAA Weather Radio stations across Michigan. endobj
Look like funnels. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Tornadoes | Ready.gov Virginia conducts their drill each March in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS) and Virginia television and radio broadcasters, according to Caldwelll. Today at 10 a.m. Know the signs of a tornado: Weather forecasting science is not perfect
Post emergency telephone numbers by phones; Install safety features in your house, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers; Inspect your home for potential hazards (such as items that can move, fall, break, or catch fire) and correct them; Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in your home; Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number; Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days. All individuals and families should have a disaster preparedness kit made prior to tornado. for Tornado Safety. Statewide drills prepare students for possible tornadoes - ABC11 where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. NOTE: The All Hazards Outdoor Emergency Warning Sirens are not designed to notify people inside a building. [12][13] As of 2012, the CDC endorsed only general head protection, but recommended that if helmets are to be used, they be kept close by to avoid wasting time searching for them. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. xZs8~L>J71+RDuv6Mvm&s}(_y:e*{oO/.^o ?tJpef]wyv*-W*pk|\\( ;sMv9mE7pMSwFOBeSlYS_?OOsz:d(cdMyVe
Br9dy'\|qpa&Mc7*'j'xuJ*I. event the school is damaged. Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters, National Weather Service Tornado Safetyexternal icon, American Red Cross Tornado Safetyexternal icon. from power lines and puddles with wires in them; they may still be carrying electricity! Schools and office building managers should regularly run
rACQD5"JUQ|CY'JPL+AbL89OZfT41blu"YA6iL Z The National Association of Home Builders opposes even "safe rooms" on the basis of cost/reward. stream [2] With weeks or months to prepare, an interior safe room can be constructed, with space for emergency water, food and flashlights, and a telephone to call for rescue if the exit becomes blocked by falling debris. Night - Small, bright, blue-green to white. \Z:nfur%9B(PGtQ4Sq84HQt.;v_`.cQmz'cQC:-a>zUh 9X9\K>vx=8Sh).ajl_[q24OZ4:fvEP2,ZH On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Source: National Weather Service, Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The elderly, very young, and the physically or mentally impaired, People who may not understand the warning due to a language barrier. Ultimately, the school administrators need to evaluate the time, space, traffic flow and coordination needed
Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head
Pick a place in the home where family members can gather if a tornado is headed your way. Take shelter if you see signs of a tornado. To rnado drills should be different than fire drills. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your
Signs that a tornado may be approaching include, Loud roar that sounds like a freight train, Keep tuned to local radio and TV stations, a. Before a tornado strikes an area, the wind has been known to die down and the air to become very still. Safety1325 East West HighwaySilver Spring, MD 20910Comments? 20D%U)i:v"QL y(324r/ [11] If a car is flipped by high winds, there is also the danger of broken glass. Know the county/parish in which you live, and keep a highway map nearby to follow storm movement from weather bulletins. can level and blow away almost any house and its occupants. Additional Daily Climate Data Tennessee tornado drill scheduled for Wednesday, February 22 If you are in a building with no basement, then get to a small interior room on the lowest level. What should go into a successful tornado drill for your family National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration You and your family can benefit from having a disaster plan in place, especially if you live in an area of the country where tornadoes frequently occur, like Tornado Alley. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer's instructions. Like any other safety drills, they increase chances of correct response to a real tornado threat. At Hunter Magnet Elementary in Raleigh, students participated in a statewide tornado drill, with Nick Petro of the National Weather Service, who said "every . Evacuate participants, just as you would if you were taking shelter during a tornado warning. Practicing what to do helps reduce the time it takes to respond in a true emergency. After they hear the signal, people go to a certain part of the building. One basic rule is AVOID WINDOWS. If possible, lie flat and cover your head with your arms. You can never rehearse emergency plans too much, Caldwell said. Prevention and practice before the storm: At home, have a family tornado plan in place, based on the kind of dwelling you live in and the safety tips below. Is there a better method for letting everyone know of an approaching tornado needed. If there isnt time to get to a tornado shelter or to a lower level, try to get under a door frame or get up against something that will support or deflect falling debris. <>
If caught outdoors: Head for the nearest ditch and assume the tornado safety position. Marine Forecast, Current Weather Conditions We take your privacy seriously. [18][19] Other states in Tornado Alley have no statewide building codes. H8/E>D3[o%1 Y2.,7XU2/A~i_W0uG05Y A carefully developed tornado drill should be run several times a year to keep students and staff in good practice, and to work out any kinks in the drill before it is needed for real. Each school should be inspected and tornado shelter areas designated by a registered engineer or architect. Heavy objects, such as refrigerators or pianos, could fall though the floor if the tornado strikes your house. Remember to protect your head. At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Most tornadoes are actually much weaker, and can be survived using these safety ideas Prevention and practice before the storm:
In a theater, get under the seats. They were advised to not stay under an overpass or bridge (where winds or debris might be funneled). The most important part of tornado safety in schools, and in similar logistical arrangements such as nursing homes, is to develop a good tornado safety plan tailored to your building design and ability to move people. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris. FEMA recommends that if you are under a tornado warning, find safe shelter immediately, such as a safe room, basement or storm cellar. . x} |J$,Ev\D,V( $(*KZPH>V%33wf}730yKf9YH #?L:t\,Sb-KDqHkQK$yO%yx\!\XD/Qs_3z|y9j~A1 CDC twenty four seven. The NWS Houston/Galveston Forecast Office encourages schools to conduct tornado drills at least twice during the school year. MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Florida will conduct a statewide tornado drill Wednesday as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week. Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert to severe weather watches and warnings. For example: Do more safe areas need to be identified? A tornado can: Happen anytime and anywhere. Most buildings like this cannot withstand the pressure from a tornadothey simply collapse.