SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY Employee Safety Training

FREQUENCIES The U.S. experiences an average of 1000 Tornadoes each year. –Most are confined to “Tornado Alley”

F-0: F-1: F-2: F-3: F-4: F-5: F-0: mph, chimney damage, tree branches broken F-1: mph, mobile homes pushed off foundation or overturned F-2: mph, considerable damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted F-3: mph, roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown F-4: mph, well-constructed walls leveled F-5: mph, homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as 100 meters Tornado Strength

TORNADO MYTHS Opening windows to equalize pressure “Tornadoes never strike city areas” The Southwest corner of a building or basement is the safest. St. Louis is just one of many cities to be hit. It’s just that cities make up only a very small % of land mass

TORNADO WATCHES / WARNINGS Tornado WATCH  Simply means that conditions are right for severe weather however, there is no current severe weather present. Tornado WARNING  A Tornado has been spotted or is indicated on radar. IMMEDIATE ACTION is needed to protect yourself. DO NOT LOOK OUT THE WINDOW to see it.

TORNADO WATCHES / WARNINGS Warning times:  Although designed to give the greatest amount of time before severe weather strikes, there is no set time and/or guarantee that you have a set amount of time.

TornadoesHazardsPreparationPriorities

HAZARDS The obvious –High winds –Up to and including total building destruction –Lightning –Flying objects –Hail and heavy rains

HAZARDS The Not-So Obvious –Downed, energized electrical lines in and out of buildings Assume all lines are energized Electric lines can energize other objects such as fences, steel beams etc. –Leaking gas or chemical lines –Sharp objects –Long span buildings are very prone to collapse. The Not-So Obvious –Downed, energized electrical lines in and out of buildings Assume all lines are energized Electric lines can energize other objects such as fences, steel beams etc. –Leaking gas or chemical lines –Sharp objects –Long span buildings are very prone to collapse.

PREPARATION Develop written Emergency Plan in advance –Shelter locations –Emergency alerting –Accountability –Weather watching Weather radios etc.

PREPARATION Develop a Business Recovery Plan –Needed Sections Incident Management Response Shutdown Inspections Recovery Restoration Critical data / programs backup Supplier shortage effects / stopping supplies Post incident contacts: –Insurance, customers, suppliers, employees Develop a Business Recovery Plan –Needed Sections Incident Management Response Shutdown Inspections Recovery Restoration Critical data / programs backup Supplier shortage effects / stopping supplies Post incident contacts: –Insurance, customers, suppliers, employees

PREPARATION Emergency supplies / equipment –Portable lighting –Roll plastic / tarps –Personal Protective Equipment –Medical supplies

PREPARATION Shelter selection / preparation –Must be well marked –Structurally sound –Free of windows –Easy Access In high rise buildings, go to an interior small room or hallway with not exterior walls and or glassy areas.

PREPARATION Employee Training –Where to go –How will they be alerted –What to do after the event –Post event hazards to be aware of

PRIORITIES PRIORITIES Personnel accountability –Must account for all employees, contractors and visitors If lacking a plan of action, assigned shelters etc. this will become virtually impossible –Assisting injured persons Remember that EMS services could easily be overwhelmed making your problem less of a priority to them Personnel accountability –Must account for all employees, contractors and visitors If lacking a plan of action, assigned shelters etc. this will become virtually impossible –Assisting injured persons Remember that EMS services could easily be overwhelmed making your problem less of a priority to them

PRIORITIES PRIORITIES Facility safety / hazard inspection – –Inspect for and isolate hazards to allow recovery work to begin Facility security – –Guard against unauthorized entry / material removal Student/Staff Notification Facility safety / hazard inspection – –Inspect for and isolate hazards to allow recovery work to begin Facility security – –Guard against unauthorized entry / material removal Student/Staff Notification

LIGHTNING HAZARDS

LIGHTNING Lightning causes approximately 100 deaths per year in the United States. ?Most could have been avoided had persons followed some simple safety rules. ?Remember that lighting can travel many miles from it’s point of origin. ?It does not have to be raining and/or completely cloudy to be struck. Lightning causes approximately 100 deaths per year in the United States. ?Most could have been avoided had persons followed some simple safety rules. ?Remember that lighting can travel many miles from it’s point of origin. ?It does not have to be raining and/or completely cloudy to be struck.

LIGHTNING Remember, If you can hear the thunderbolt, you are close enough to be struck by the lighting ?Find shelter in a car or building ?Avoid using the telephone or electrical appliances ?Stay away from windows if possible or pull down shades or blinds ?Stay away from trees or tall objects, “Make yourself Small” Remember, If you can hear the thunderbolt, you are close enough to be struck by the lighting ?Find shelter in a car or building ?Avoid using the telephone or electrical appliances ?Stay away from windows if possible or pull down shades or blinds ?Stay away from trees or tall objects, “Make yourself Small”

LIGHTNING If someone is struck by lightning ?They do not become “Electrified” and you can touch them ?Immediately call 911 for help ?Begin CPR if necessary ?Remember that they may also be badly burned and/or have bone fractures About 1/2 of persons struck will be killed If someone is struck by lightning ?They do not become “Electrified” and you can touch them ?Immediately call 911 for help ?Begin CPR if necessary ?Remember that they may also be badly burned and/or have bone fractures About 1/2 of persons struck will be killed