Tornado Preparedness. Monthly Safety Meeting

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Meryl Carter
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1 Tornado Preparedness Monthly Safety Meeting

2 Introduction Tornadoes can occur anywhere and at any time during the year. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported throughout the nation. The most violent tornadoes may have wind speeds of 250 mph or more, and may last for more than an hour. Sometimes multiple tornadoes may occur at the same time.

3 Objectives By the end of this training you will: Know your employer s responsibilities Be able to list warning signs of a tornado Understand our community s warning system Be familiar with OPC s Tornado Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Plans Understand the hazards you will face after a tornado and how to stay safe

4 Employer Responsibilities Employers are responsible for: Providing a safe & healthful workplace Creating an EPP Protecting workers from anticipated hazards associated with response operations Your employer s written EPP should include: Suitable places to take shelter Policies to ensure all personnel are accounted for

5 Why is this important? Tornadoes can occur with little or no warning. Taking precautions in advance of the storms, such as developing an emergency plan, learning the warning signs, and monitoring tornado watches and warnings, can help you stay safe if a tornado occurs in our area.

6 Warning Signs Dark, often greenish clouds or sky Wall clouds- isolated lowering of storm base Cloud of debris Funnel clouds- visible rotating extension of the cloud base Large hail Roaring noise

7 Community warning system Tornado Watch - Tornadoes are likely to occur in the watch area. Be ready to act quickly and take shelter. Monitor radio and television stations for more information. Tornado Warning - Imminent threat - A tornado has been sighted in the area or has been indicated by radar. Take shelter immediately.

8 Community Warning System Previously, all tornado sirens throughout a county sounded when a tornado warning was issued anywhere in the county. In December 2015, Oklahoma City adopted a new tornado siren policy that divides the city into zones. Now, when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, only the sirens in zones covered by the warning will sound.

9 Community Warning System Therefore, anyone who hears a tornado siren is likely to be close to a dangerous storm and should take shelter IMMEDIATELY.

10 Emergency Preparedness Plan Employees will be told to begin evacuation practices via intercom/personal announcement ALL employees are to evacuate during this time Employees will calmly walk to the safe room, assisting patients and/or other employees

11 Emergency Preparedness Plan If the safe room cannot be reached or is full, employees will seek shelter in a central exam room and will assist others Once in a safe location, employees will NOT be permitted to leave until otherwise instructed All information, including situational changes, will be communicated via personal announcement

Emergency Preparedness Plan If in a central exam room: stay in the center of the room- walls attract debris curl in a ball covering your head and neck with your

12 Emergency Preparedness Plan If in a central exam room: stay in the center of the room- walls attract debris curl in a ball covering your head and neck with your hands The Office Manager and Safety Officer will check all rooms on their way to a safe location. Once in a safe location, roll will be called to account for all employees

13 Evacuation Plan Note: The external walls of our building are made with reinforced polysteel, which can withstand winds up to 180 mph, which is roughly equivalent to an F3 tornado.

14 Post-Tornado Hazards Potential for additional storms Downed electrical lines Broken gas lines Sharp debris such as glass and nails Heat stress Hazards from equipment such as portable generators Fire hazards due to spilled flammable materials

15 What to do after a Tornado Continue listening to local news for updated information and instructions Only return home when authorities say it is safe to do so Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes when examining for damage Watch out for fallen power lines and broken gas lines Report these immediately to the utility company

16 What to do after a tornado Stay out of damaged buildings Use battery powered flashlights- NOT candles Use the telephone only for emergency calls Clean up flammable liquids that have spilled Check for injuries If you are trained, provide first aid to those in need

17 The End All information for this training was taken from the Federal OSHA website and Oklahoma Pain Center s Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Severe Weather Hazards Are Real

Severe Weather Hazards Are Real In the past 10 years, more than 40 people have died and dozens more injured as a result of weatherrelated events in Minnesota (not including motor vehicles.) The top severe