Large Venue and Higher Education Considerations Gilbert Sebenste Staff Meteorologist Northern Illinois University.

Large Venue and Higher Education Considerations

Gilbert Sebenste

Staff Meteorologist

Northern Illinois University

Why should I be “Storm Ready”?

• Damaging winds, either produced by microbursts or tornadoes, pose a significant risk to life and property.

• Most people in their lifetime will experience winds strong enough to do significant damage to their venues or schools.

• If you stay in northern Illinois your entire life…you’ll likely be affected by a tornado.

Multi County SKYWARN

Since 2004, we’re up to 42 on average!

NOAA


Strong to violent tornadoes since 1950Multi County SKYWARN

But tornadoes are just one of many items of interest…

• There were no tornado fatalities in Illinois last year, but 11 injuries did occur.

• One fatality in 2008 was due to straight-line thunderstorm winds.

• There were 5 deaths directly related to flooding or flash flooding last year.

• Most of these are completely preventable with a multi-faceted safety plan.


Disaster declarations due to flooding

June 1, 1965 through 2003

Red=4 or more declarations


From A. Black and W. Ashley, 2008

Thunderstorm wind fatalities, 1977-2007

A. Black/W. Ashley, 2008


In Summary…

• Northern Illinois and northwest Indiana are in an area that experiences frequent severe weather episodes which cause significant risk to life and property.

• As a result, schools, businesses and indoor and outdoor venues needs to have a comprehensive weather disaster safety plan.

• A plan has to be flexible to handle multiple severe weather parameters.

Step 1: the tools…getting the information to save your life

• NOAA All-Hazards Radio




• NOAA All-Hazards Radio• AM/FM radio• Digital TV tuner (a USB tuner into your

desktop/laptop works great), cable TV?• Email alerts (available on

http://inws.wrh.noaa.gov), to your PDA, pager, desktop, laptop, etc

• NWS Romeoville Web site



• Phone alerts from a private vendor• Reverse 911 (see if it is available)• Trained weather spotter(s) to look outside

and watch for incoming bad weather (but make sure they can get to a place of safety quickly!)

• Local “disaster” AM radio stations that serve individual communities


Step 2: Plan for the disaster…Tornadoes/high winds

• Identify interior bathrooms on the lowest floor. Think about installing a “safe room”!

• Interior hallways and schools and venues on the lowest floor that do NOT have windows are next best.

• In many schools and venues, a break room void of any windows on the lowest floor is good during a tornado or severe straight-line winds.



• When a tornado watch is issued, your safety plan should begin…

• When a tornado warning is issued for your area, your school or venue is CLOSED!

• Initiate your plan of action upon receipt of the warning.

• If you are on the edge of a warning, or if in doubt, be safe rather than sorry!



• After the event, check for any damage and report to your insurance company…

• If your school, or venue were destroyed by a tornado today, do you have a business continuity plan to keep it going at a “backup” site? Plan for at least a year of being out of commission.


Parson’s Manufacturing Plant,Roanoke, IL 7/13/2004

NOAA All-Hazards Radio + weather spotters + safe room = no injuries!

© Matt Dayhoff, Peoria Journal Register-Star

They all hid in there!


Parson’s Manufacturing Plant,Roanoke, IL 7/13/2004

© Matt Dayhoff, Peoria Journal Register-StarMulti County SKYWARN

Step 2: Plan for the disaster…Flash flooding

• In schools and venues, flash flooding can cause problems just as severe as any tornado!

• Evaluate your flood threat beforehand. Are you insured?

• A flash flood/flood watch is issued before almost all widespread flooding events.

• Read bulletins closely for flood impacts.



• Be ready to evacuate quickly, and start as early as possible! Evacuations takes time.

• Can you move important valuables quickly to higher ground or on top of a high shelf if major flooding is possible or expected?

• Make sure all computer/system data is backed up *offsite*.



• Do you have a backup site that you can hold classes/do business from if your building is flooded or destroyed?

• Can you get sandbags if needed?• An aside: A broken water main

inside/outside the venue can do the same thing that 6” of rain in a short time period!


Hell’s Kitchen Office!

Courtesy: New South Wales State Emergency ServiceMulti County SKYWARN

But what about this?


Or this?

Courtesy NCAA


Step 2: Plan for the disaster…“Typical” thunderstorms

• In outdoor venues, ANY thunderstorm is a threat to the well-being of those present!

• You should have adequate shelter for the venue available a few minutes away or less. Can be difficult for outdoor festivals.

• For grades K-12, the school is usually next to the venue. Make sure it is accessible in case of bad weather!


Step 2: Plan for the disaster…

• For collegiate/very large outdoor venues, send people to their cars for non-severe thunderstorms, or in concourse areas NOT in direct lightning danger.

• For thunderstorms, someone needs to be watching the radar at all times, and you may have to beat any NWS warning!

• This also goes for county fairs and other outdoor large festivals!


Step 3: Evaluate the plan…

• Is the plan reasonable?• Make sure everyone is “on board” and

knows exactly what to do!• Test it if you can: hold tornado drills, check

NOAA/AM/FM radio batteries/functionality • Post-event, evaluate again for

effectiveness and amend/change things as needed


In Summary…

• Your school or venue is eventually going to get hit with dangerous weather, either tornadoes, high winds or floods.

• Having a plan of action before the disaster strikes will save lives, and your school or venue!

• Update and check the plan annually to make sure you’re always ready.


In Summary…

That’s all I have. Questions?


Large Venue and Higher Education Considerations Gilbert Sebenste Staff Meteorologist Northern Illinois University.

Documents

plan of action

tornado warning

multifaceted safety

tornado fatalities

tornado watch

severe straightline

lowest floor

significant risk