industry workshop 05

Severe Weather Strategy Workshop for Industry: 

Severe Weather Strategy Workshop for Industry National Weather Service Quad Cities January 25, 2005 NOAA’s National Weather Service NOAA’s National Weather Service

Why are we here?: 

Why are we here?

Answer: Parson’s Technology – It can happen here.: 

Answer: Parson’s Technology – It can happen here.

Parsons Before: 

Parsons Before

Parsons After: 

Parsons After

Parsons After: 

Parsons After

Parsons After: 

Parsons After

Parsons After: 

Parsons After

Why are we here?: 

Why are we here? Nobody wants to notify next of kin.

What makes an effective Severe Weather Plan?: 

What makes an effective Severe Weather Plan?

Plan: 

Plan Know the threats Construct an effective plan for those threats

Plan: Threat Assessment: 

Plan: Threat Assessment Tornado Extreme wind Flood Flash Flood Hail Blizzard Extreme Heat/Cold

Focus on Tornado/High Wind: 

Focus on Tornado/High Wind Climatology of Tornadoes/High wind Strength Season Diurnal peaks

Tornados: Strength: 

Tornados: Strength

Tornados and Extreme Wind: Season : 

Tornados and Extreme Wind: Season

Tornados and Extreme Wind: Time of Day: 

Tornados and Extreme Wind: Time of Day

Tornados and Extreme Wind: Regional Distribution: 

Tornados and Extreme Wind: Regional Distribution Average Number of Tornado Events per Year (Doppler Radar Era) Average Number of Extreme Wind Events per Year (Doppler Radar Era)

An Effective Severe Weather Plan answers these questions:: 

An Effective Severe Weather Plan answers these questions: Who will monitor the weather? When will plan be enacted? How will action be initiated? Where will people go? How will you communicate an “all-clear”? When will you practice?

Who will monitor the weather?: 

Who will monitor the weather? “Designated Weather Watcher” Available information: before, during, after Your eyes: the spotter network Two-way communication

When will plan be enacted?: 

When will plan be enacted? Establish criteria Warning or sighted Consider how much time you need for people to reach shelter…

Background: Available Weather Information: 

Background: Available Weather Information Outlook: early each morning Watch: 1 to 6 hours ahead Warning Severe thunderstorm: average 20 minutes before Tornado Warning: average 12 minutes before Web site: weather.gov

Web Page: 

Web Page

Background: What can I expect from warnings?: 

Background: What can I expect from warnings? Climatology Realistic expectations High wind wording Geography

Average Number of Warnings per Year: 

Average Number of Warnings per Year Red: Tornado Warnings Blue: Severe Tstm Warnings Green: Flash Flood Warnings

How will action be initiated?: 

How will action be initiated? Means of communication Backup plan

Where will people go?: 

Where will people go? Appropriate shelter Enough space Visitors (esp. large groups) People leading the group must have and know the plan Enough time to get there

Background: Tornado Shelters: 

Background: Tornado Shelters Interior of building Without windows Roof tied to walls – walls tied to floor Avoid large-span (>30 ft) rooms An engineered Saferoom is best FEMA Saferoom guidelines New construction or retrofit Can be a working space (conference room, break room, storeroom, bathrooms, etc)

Interior Room Left Intact: 

Interior Room Left Intact

Parsons Storm Shelter: 

Parsons Storm Shelter

Concrete Saferoom: 

Concrete Saferoom

Steel Saferoom: 

Steel Saferoom

Residential saferooms under construction: 

Residential saferooms under construction

How will you communicate an “all-clear”?: 

How will you communicate an “all-clear”? Drills Shift to response/rescue mode

Practice: 

Practice Training meetings: Make sure everyone knows the plan In house drills: Practice the plan Evaluate time needed Evaluate suitability of shelters Severe Weather Awareness Week – tornado drill day for each state

Act: 

Act Acting vs reacting Be proactive Outlook, watch, other warnings

Consider Van Wert, Ohio.: 

Consider Van Wert, Ohio. On Veteran’s Day In 2002, an F4 tornado struck Van Wert, Ohio. 50 people were watching “Santa Clause 2”. The movie theater was directly struck. No fatalities. No serious injuries. Why? The theater owner had heard the warning on Weather Radio and moved all the patrons into their restroom (shelter area).

Act: Van Wert, Ohio: 

Act: Van Wert, Ohio

Act: Van Wert, Ohio: 

Act: Van Wert, Ohio

Act: Van Wert, Ohio: 

Act: Van Wert, Ohio

Act: Van Wert, Ohio: 

Act: Van Wert, Ohio

Summary: 

Summary Based on Parsons, VanWert, Oklahoma City, Utica, and numerous other tornado successes and failures – What works: Engineered Tornado shelters. The Designated Weather Watcher. Being proactive. Practicing. Plan. Practice. Monitor. Act.