Have occupants sit and face the walls. Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris. Recently several calls and e-mails have asked for verification of the correct tornado safety position for children to take during drills (and actual tornadoes) in schools. Many states regulate how daycare facilities prepare for this kind of emergency. 1       Contact the office to be sure the visitor has registered. See disclaimer. Tornado safety instruction should be a part of these drills. The rules are still the same. (Pause) SECURE BUILIDNG. Until February of that year, I’d focused solely on friendships with the two most popular girls: Queen Bee and her main lady-in-waiting. Normally issued well in advance of severe weather. Time for the emotional reckoning. Anne Pyburn Craig has written for a range of regional and local publications ranging from in-depth local investigative journalism to parenting, business, real estate and green building publications. Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a tornado hazard. The greatest danger during a tornado is being injured by flying debris. II. What was my part? This is a perfect time for school administrators, safety officers, and faculty to review severe weather safety procedures and participate in the annual tornado drill. Severe weather may strike with only a few minutes of advance warning. Seconds count. Learn what to do if you are under a tornado warning and how to stay safe when a tornado threatens. Notify parents when drills take place so that they can prepare their children and be prepared for any questions that may arise afterward. Repeat announcement no less than three times. Time to assess what’s left behind. Make sure your plan includes securing vital documents such as parent contact information. Demonstrate the "cover position," kneeling knee-to-chest with hands clasped covering the head. 9       Staff: Assist with evacuation, if needed. 1       An announcement in person directly or over the public address system. The drill is conducted in close coordination with the South Carolina Broadcasters Association. Monitor Weather Alerts. Advanced planning becomes especially critical to childrens’ well-being. READ MORE: Stimulus Check Update: Is A Fourth Relief Payment Coming? tornado drill or warning, they should be instructed to respond to a specific command ... immediately into the protective position. Such a command might be: "Everybody down!" When a tornado warning sounds, children need to proceed to the safety location quickly, carefully and quietly. The NWS will follow it with a statewide mock tornado warning at 1:45 p.m. Stay calm. Discuss tornado safety as needed to prepare for and conduct successful drills. Tornado drills should take place at the beginning of a school year or term and again at least once during tornado season; monthly drills during the season are even better. Doors should already be locked. The drill … All authorized visitors must wear a visitor’s badge. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Statewide Tornado Drill is April 11 Dear School Officials: April 8-12, 2019 is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. A mock tornado watch will be issued statewide by the NWS at 1:00 p.m. © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. 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 in imminent. The correct tornado safety position is like the one illustrated in the "Tornadoes: Nature's Most Violent Storms" brochure (ARC 5002). Contrarily, data indicate that there have been some injuries to children when they are facing the other way. 4       If an intruder is in the classroom, use the intercom to call the office for assistance. Prepare for drill. Explain the importance of staying calm, cooperating quickly and paying attention to instructions during the drill. During a tornado the best shelter is an underground area, such as a basement or a storm shelter. Cancel signal: “The IOC meeting has been cancelled.”. Duties upon sounding of a tornado siren or issuing a verbal tornado warning: Use a public address intercom system or have designated volunteers alert staff from Then there’s the next step, "We have to get to the basement," Meaux said. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. A written plan prominently displayed and practiced is recommended for any daycare. (Pause) SECURE BUILDING. At approximately 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, March 8th, the National Weather Service During drills, move occupants into those areas. 2       Students outside should be directed by the staff to go inside the building to a safe room (see current locations as announced during staff meetings). The general rule for tornado safety is go low and stay low - go to the lowest level of a building or structure away from windows and crouch in a low position with your head covered. 5       Teacher/Leader reviews emergency action chart while she awaits further instructions (Let no children out of the classroom, students in hallways are to go to nearest classroom. If danger exists, evacuate the students to a safe position away from the intruder. Remember that winds may pick up at the onset of the storm and may or may not drop off prior to the tornado. Officials say that participation in the drill is voluntary and decided county by … Make a Ready kit for at least three days of self-sufficiency. Safety Coordinators: If you are in a designated Severe Weather Shelter area, assist others to your area and stay Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. The afternoon drill ends at 2:00 p.m. An evening drill is scheduled on the same day with a mock tornado warning to take place at 6:45 p.m. During the statewide tornado drill residents will observe or hear alerts on NOAA Weather Radios, TV and radio stations. The child should be sitting/kneeling FACING the wall, with his/her hands over the back of his/her head and neck, tucked into a ball. Warning signs include an eerie stillness in the air, a sudden change in the color of the sky and a roaring sound like an approaching train. Sign up for text or e-mail alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Radio, know where to find their local station on your radio dial, and keep spare batteries handy. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. This ACTION is considered appropriate for, alerting the building of a Preliminary intruder alert. Once there, children should assume the "cover position" along an interior wall and wait for an adult to give the all clear. Stay with children and protect them. Principal:  Announce warning signal. 4       Athletic Director will check AC, locker rooms and kitchen. 1       Elementary Principal will be responsible for checking all first floor classrooms and restrooms. Care should be taken to assure that students are not given information unless necessary. 4       The administrator should be notified of such action as soon as possible. duct regular drills to practice such plan. Tornado Drill and Warning Procedure for everyone: • Tornado Warning is activated by National Weather Service. Alerts are sent to students, faculty, and staff automatically by COM Alert. It will happen at 10 a.m. EST. If necessary, help evacuate students. Out of the tornado drill position. Schools that participate in the statewide drill in March can usually credit that date as their required April tornado drill. 7       Nurse: Administer first aid. Over 50 years of statistics collected by the Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Public Health Service, indicate that NO children have been injured by a tornado when they are in this position. requires that all public schools conduct a minimum of two tornado safety drills per school year. The 2020 tornado season claimed the lives of 76 individuals and injured hundreds more. The injuries those children received were abrasions, cuts, and contusions caused by flying debris; and severe eye injuries (including two children blinded, one in Illinois in 1982)... children can't help but want to try to look up and thus get debris in their eyes. If you live in an area prone to tornados, such as tornado alley, you … She frequently writes tourism and lifestyle articles for chamber of commerce publications and is a respected book reviewer. Before a drill. Given the first command the following actions will be taken: 1       Teacher/Leader repeats announcement, 2       To Obtain cooperation and silence from those in attendance, 3       Obtain cooperation and silence from those in attendance. The correct tornado safety position is like the one illustrated in the "Tornadoes: Nature's Most Violent Storms" brochure (ARC 5002). 2       While students are getting on floor, close any shades and/or blinds if it appears safe to do so. Example: "Your attention please. Reminder: Tornado Drill Today at approximately 10:00 am Tornado Drill and Warning Procedure for everyone: • Tornado Warning is activated by National Weather Service. Make sure all employees know of this plan, and have surprise practice drills. This wil l allow both students and faculty to remain calm and move quickly in the event of a real tornado. Have the children practice the cover position. “Even if there was a real tornado drill going on, we would know what to do,” Gortemaker said. IOC meeting. Know your region's history of tornado activity. 2       Security will be called when a person poses a threat to the safety of students or staff. 2       Assist Principal for Middle School will be responsible for checking all second floor classrooms and restrooms. Tornado Drill Procedures Emergency evacuations of day care centers during tornadoes can be traumatic for children. I thought first of fifth grade and my ouster from my social circle. 3       High School Principal will be responsible for checking all third floor classrooms and restrooms. An I-O-C meeting is called to alert teachers and leaders that a possible intruder is in the bldg. A tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. Rules for tornado drills require detailed plans that are practiced before a … Duration: 4 to 8 hours. 3       Check restrooms and vacant rooms. This ACTION is considered appropriate for, but not limited to, the following: Goal: To maintain calm and order and not disrupt the classrooms any more than necessary. Do a walk-through, and post diagrams in prominent locations. In many states, licensed child-care facilities are required to have emergency plans in place. Occupants should be provided instructions regarding how to take a tornado safe position.