Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Boston, MA

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
840 AM EDT WED MAY 1 2013

...SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK - TORNADO SAFETY IN SCHOOLS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THE WEEK OF APRIL 29 TO
MAY 3 2013 AS SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK. THE FOLLOWING IS
THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF FIVE INFORMATIONAL STATEMENTS.

EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE A TORNADO SAFETY PLAN. THIS PLAN SHOULD
ENSURE THAT EVERYONE WILL TAKE COVER WITHIN 60 SECONDS. FREQUENT
TORNADO DRILLS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED. THERE SHOULD BE PROVISIONS
FOR ALL AFTER-HOURS SCHOOL-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND TORNADO SHELTER AREAS
DESIGNATED BY A REGISTERED ENGINEER OR ARCHITECT. ROOMS WITH
EXTERIOR WALLS SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS TORNADO SHELTERS.
BASEMENTS OFFER THE BEST PROTECTION. SCHOOLS WITHOUT BASEMENTS
SHOULD USE INTERIOR ROOMS AND HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

SCHOOLS SHOULD DELAY ASSEMBLIES OR LUNCH IN LARGE ROOMS WITH WIDE
ROOF SPANS...SUCH AS GYMNASIUMS...AUDITORIUMS...AND CAFETERIAS.
THESE ROOMS OFFER LITTLE OR NO PROTECTION FOR TORNADO-STRENGTH
WINDS AND THE WIDE SPAN ROOFS CAN COLLAPSE.

STUDENTS AND STAFF SHOULD KNOW THE PROTECTIVE POSITION...SITTING
AND FACING AN INTERIOR WALL...ELBOWS TO KNEES...AND WITH HANDS
OVER THE BACK OF THEIR HEADS.

EACH SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO WITH BATTERY BACKUP.
REMEMBER THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A TORNADO WATCH
WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT AND A
TORNADO WARNING WHEN A TORNADO HAS BEEN SPOTTED OR INDICATED BY
RADAR.

IF THE ALARM SYSTEM OF A SCHOOL RELIES ON ELECTRICITY...THERE
SHOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO NOTIFY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
IN CASE OF POWER FAILURE.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO MAKE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR FACULTY AND
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES...THOSE WITH PORTABLE CLASSROOMS...
AND THOSE OUTDOORS.

KEEP CHILDREN AT SCHOOL BEYOND REGULAR HOURS DURING A TORNADO
WARNING. ANOTHER GOOD PRACTICE IS TO DELAY DEPARTURE OF SCHOOL
BUSES WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS TOO... SINCE THEY CAN
PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WITHOUT A TORNADO.

WHEN PLANNING ADDITIONS OR NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS...BE SURE TO
INCLUDE PROPERLY DESIGNED TORNADO SHELTERS.

$$

RLG

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