StormReady® StormReady® Supporter for Florida Schools Ernie Jillson NWS Tampa Bay Florida Balloon Release – NWS Tampa Bay

Outline StormReady® StormReady® Supporter StormReady® Supporter for Schools (Florida program) Image from CharityAdvantage.com

StormReady® Supporters

StormReady® ≠ Storm Proof EF4 Tornado Damage to Enterprise High School in Enterprise, AL on March 1, 2007 Image c/o WTVY-4 8 students killed by a wall that collapsed when the Enterprise Tornado struck their school. They had a plan and they did everything right. More lives would have been lost had the school not had a severe weather emergency plan.

StormReady® Supporter Schools will be better Prepared Work with NWS resources to refine the school’s weather safety plan and shelter locations. Goal: Educate decision makers on how to interrogate weather information resources and Empower them to make a proactive and APPROPRIATE safety decision for their school. Image c/o Augusta Chronicle

Florida StormReady® Supporter for Schools Program Schools must satisfy 9 guidelines as well as submit a formal application to their local approving official. –Local approving official for each individual school should be the Principal, or his or her appointed designee. –All 9 mandatory guidelines must be accomplished before the approving official signs off on the application. Re-recognition period: Does not expire A copy of the signed application must be forwarded to the National Weather Service in Ruskin

The Guidelines 1.Skywarn Spotter Training (SPOT) 2.Severe Weather Threat Assessment Training (SWAT) 3.Develop a Severe Weather Emergency Plan (SWEP) 4.Two NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards 5.Back-Up Weather Information Source 6.Tornado Shelter Areas 7.Tornado Drills 8.Daily Forecast 9.Hazardous Weather Awareness Week

1. Skywarn TM Spotter Training The course identifies dangerous local weather hazards and offers safety recommendations for each. Lightning safety is thoroughly addressed. At minimum, the principal, asst. principals, coaches and athletic directors must complete this course. Other faculty are encouraged. Training may be via an NWS sponsored class or online training.

2. Severe Weather Assessment of Threat Training (S.W.A.T.) This course goes through case scenarios of weather hazards that could impact the school, and gives the student choices of various protocols. The SWAT course must be completed at minimum by the school principal, assistant principals and all physical education teachers.

3. Severe Weather Emergency Plan The school must develop a Severe Weather Emergency Plan Establishes the severe weather team, coordination methods and customized school weather safety protocol. A baseline document of NWS weather safety recommendations is available on the Resources page and can be customized by each school.

4. NOAA Weather Radio Each school should have 2 operable SAME equipped NWRs It is recommended that one be placed in the school’s main office and one in the athletic office (the second location may vary) Image NWS Amarillo

5. Back-Up Weather Information Source The school must establish at least one back-up method of receiving real time weather information. –Pagers, phone tree, EAS systems, radio, TV, internet, Blast Fax, etc. –Most rely on NWR, and use the internet, radio or TV as the back-up method.

6. Tornado Shelter Areas Must be prominently marked throughout the school and locations must be communicated to students and faculty. –Most schools copied and laminated signs they printed. A school site visit by the NWS, local EM, architect and/or builder will help determine the safest locations. Image from University Wisconsin at Milwaukee

7. Tornado Drills School will conduct at least 2 tornado safety drills each year –The Annual Statewide Tornado drill, usually conducted in February, can count as one drill. –Recommend the other drill in the Fall. Image from Sacred Heart

8. Daily Forecast Dissemination Recommendations include reading forecast over morning announcements or distributing the information via morning memos to teachers. Post/Distribute the Hazardous Weather Outlook, specifically when inclement weather is anticipated. Image from “Kids TV” at Dolby Elementary

9. Hazardous Weather Awareness Week The school must participate in Florida Hazardous Weather Awareness Week, normally each February. The school must communicate the weather related topic each day during HWAW to faculty and students (for example during morning announcements). The school is required to participate in the HWAW tornado drill (Guideline #4).

10. Weather Equipment: Encouraged The below equipment is highly recommended for schools, if possible for them to attain –A portable SAME equipped NOAA Weather Radio receiver at outdoor events (graduations, athletic events, carnivals) –A portable lightning detector or contract with a lightning detection service –A weather station and involvement in the CoCoRaHS program Image Lane Stadium Photo Eric Brady

NWS Workload Considerations Book-keeping –There are too many schools for the National Weather Service to keep track of. –Each school district must decide if there will be an overall administrator for the program, or allow each school to keep their own records. –The certification will not expire, however each school must be able to present proof of the required training if requested. Site visits –National Weather Service may attend StormReady ceremonies as availability allows. –The National Weather Service will not be able to attend every ceremony or site visit.

Resources & Contacts StormReady® Program: StormReady® Supporter for Florida Schools Resources Page: NOAA Wx Radio: CoCoRaHS: Florida Dept of Emergency Management: Ernie Jillson NWS Tampa Bay, Ruskin