With much of metro Atlanta looking for severe weather today, school systems are watching the skies and heeding warnings from local weather forecasters.
“Our schools are aware of the potential for severe weather today,” said Henry County schools spokesman John Hardin. “We have staff monitoring and working with the emergency management agency in the county for updates. Our schools have held tornado drills during the year to ensure students and staff know what to do in the event one does impact the area.”
He made no mention of early release or cancellation of after school events.
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Shortly after noon, Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz reported that he received new models that show the highest risk for severe weather in portions of western metro Atlanta.
NOAA’s National Weather Service urges that all schools develop plans and conduct drills to cope with tornadoes — particularly in the South and central states, where the threat is greatest. Tornado drills require different actions than fire drills.
Among details to consider:
Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A watch is when the possibility of tornadoes exists, and a tornado warning is when a tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar. Remember also there may not be time for a tornado warning before a twister strikes. Tornadoes form suddenly.
Each school should be inspected and tornado shelter areas designated. Schools with basements should use these as shelters. Schools without basements should use interior hallways on the ground floor that are not parallel to the tornado’s path, which is usually from the southwest. Never use gymnasiums, auditoriums, or other rooms with wide free-span roofs. Teachers and students should know their designated shelter areas.
School buses should continue to operate during tornado watches, but not during tornado warnings. School buses are easily rolled by tornado winds.
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Children in schoolrooms of weak construction — such as portable or temporary classrooms — should be escorted to sturdier buildings or to predetermined ditches, culverts, or ravines, and instructed to lie face down, hands over head.
Most tornado deaths are caused by head injuries.
When children are assembled in school basements or interior hallways during a tornado drill or warning, they should be instructed to respond to a specific command to assume protective postures, facing interior walls, when the danger in imminent. Such a command might be: “Everybody down!” It is essential that this command be instantly understood and obeyed. Illustrations showing the protective position should be posted on bulletin boards.
If a school bus is caught in the open when a tornado is approaching, the children should be escorted to a nearby ditch or ravine and made to lie face down, hands over head. They should be far enough away so the bus cannot topple on them.
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