HomeMy WebLinkAboutTornado Safety Rules in Schools 1975 New findings on tornadoes
3 WASHINGTON I111 — Pick- per cent of U.S. tornadoes vice officials noted the ad-
Ing through the rubble of move from a southwesterly vice runs directly counter to
1 schools devastated by tor- direction — and with their the folklore of huddling in the
nadoes has led a team of re- knowledge of structural prin- southwest corner of a struc-
searchers to new conclusions ciples — the team of engi- ture.
about the storms, and new neers and architects came up
suggestions for keeping safe w i t h several recommenda- • Seek out spaces pro -
0 from them. tions: tected by interior walls. They
And some major folklore are more shielded from the
about tornadoes negated by • Stay out of large rooms direct impact of the winds
findings which include the with free -span roofs. Exam- and they usually don't bear
1 conclusion that the winds pies are gymnasiums, cafe- the load of holding up the
swirling about the fringes of terias and auditoriums. Such rss }.
the storms push walls inward. roofs are subject to lifting •Corridors are usually 1
The study, conducted by a forces and are more prone to good havens, but avoid if at
t eam of university professors failure than more well -sup- all possible corridors facing
and being distributed by the ported roofs. south or west. They tend to
National Weather Service to become "wind tunnels." Cor-
help school officials prepare • Avoid the southwest cor- ridors facing north are the
for the impending peak tor- ners of schools. Since the tor- safest. Corridors facing east
i nado season, puts at rest the nado is likely approaching are the next best bet.
II
r n o t i o n that the vacuum from that direction and since
created by the center of a the winds are 100 miles an • Avoid areas with large
a tornado causes walls to ex- hour or so higher on one side, spaces of glass.
plode outward. the result is even greater
Combining that discovery pressure on southerly and • Basements are safest.
with the observation that 90 westerly walls. Weather Ser- Ground floors rank next.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Several times in recent years, schools have u :en hit by
tornadoes. In most instances, fortunately, classes were
not in session. In some other instances, where students
were present, school officials familiar with twisters
safeguarded the children by taking prompt action just
before the tornadoes hit.
NOAA's National Weather Service urges that all schools
develop plans and conduct drills to cope with tornadoes —
particularly in the South and central states, where the
threat is greatest. Tornado drills require different actions than
fire drills.
Among details to consider:
• Remember that the National Weather Service issues a
tornado Watch when the possibility of tornadoes exists,
and a tornado Warning when a tornado !as been spotted
or indicated on radar. Remember also there may not be
time for a tornado Warning before a twister strikes.
Tornadoes form suddenly. Teachers and students should
know the difference between a Watch and a Warning.
• School officials at the State and county level should
have a plan for rapid dissemination of tornado Watches
and Warnings to every school in the system— either by
radio or telephone.
• Each school should be inspected and tornado shelter
seas selected and marked. Schools with- basements should
use these as tornado shelters. Schools without basements
should use interior hallways on the lowest floor. Under
no circumstances should gymnasiums, auditoriums,
cafeterias, and other rooms with wide free -span roofs
be used as shelters. Teachers and students should know
their designated shelter areas.
(continued on back page)
The inside of this folder is designed as a poster to be displayed on a
bulletin board or some other place where the children will see it
and become familiar with its lifesaving message. Complete the Signal
and Warning sections. (e.g. Warning Signal — "Continuous bell"
Warning Action — "2nd floor, go to central stairwell, await teacher's
instructions ") The Watch Signal and Action may be merely an
announcement by the teacher that school routine will continue but
the children may be asked to move quickly to safety in an emergency.
/ ( 30`)
• Sch ® ®I administrators should establish procedures
governing use or non -use of school buses during tornado
Watches and Warnings. Generally speaking, school buses
should continue to operate during tornado Watches, but
not during tornado Warnings. School buses are easily
rolled by tornado winds.
• During a tornado Watch, specific teachers or other
school staff members should be designated to monitor
commercial radio or TV for tornado Warnings, even if the
school has a NOAA Weather Radio tone -alert system.
Weather spotters also should keep an eye on the sky
for dark, roiling clouds, hail, driving rain, or a sudden
increase in wind, in addition to the telltale funnel.
Tornadoes are often obscured by precipitation or darkness.
Other public agencies, too, report tornado sightings.
• A special alarm system should be designated to
indicate a tornado has been sighted and is approaching. A
backup alarm should be planned for use if electrical
power fails perhaps a battery - operated bullhorn, an
inexpensive hand - cranked siren, or even an old- fashioned
hand -swung bell.
• Specific teachers should be assigned to round up
children on playgrounds or other outdoor areas during a
tornado warning. Otherwise, they might be overlooked.
• Children in schoolrooms of weak construction such
as portable or temporary classrooms -- should be escorted
to sturdier buildings or to predetermined ditche, culverts, •
or ravines, and instructed to lie face dow4, hands over
head. Most tornado deaths are caused by head injuries.
• When children are assembled in school basements or
interior hallways during a tornado drill or Warning, they
should be instructed to respond to a specific command
to assume protective postures, facing interior walls,
when the danger is imminent. Such a command might
be: "Everybody down! Crouch on elbows and knees!
Hands over back of head!" It is essential that this command
be instantly understood and obeyed. Illustrations showing
the protective position should be posted on bulletin boards.
• If a school bus is caught in the open when a tornado
is approaching, the children should be escorted to a
nearby ditch or ravine and made to lie face down, hands
over head. They should be far enough away so the bus
cannot topple on them. School -bus drivers should be
regularly drilled in tornado procedures.
• School district officials planning new buildings or
additions should keep tornadoes in mind when setting
PN ° ^T"^ °SPNFR,� construction standards. For further
o��PP NOAH 9 information on ways that schools can
begin or improve their emergency severe
� weather preparedness plans write Com-
munity Preparedness, National Weather
9RT MEN7 OF CO
NOAA /PA 74025 Service, Silver Spring Maryland 20910.
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