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?


Documents

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