Fayetteville-Manlius Schools > About Us > Required Notifications > School District Safety Plan > Table of Contents / General Guidelines > Weather Related Response

Weather Related Response

Severe Storm

In the event of tornado condition, large assembly areas, i.e. Cafeteria, should not be used due to the fact that large roof spans are vulnerable. Interior walls of classrooms and/or interior hallways should be used to shelter occupants.

Response Action:

  1. If a severe storm or other weather-related emergency is forecast has hit the area, the Superintendent of Schools will determine if school will open for the day.
  2. Tune to the radio stations for early morning reports.
  3. Other school district personnel not employed at elementary or secondary schools will be advised by the same radio report whether or not they are to report for work.
  4. If a storm develops during the day, our primary means of warning of a severe storm or other weather-related emergency will be by the Weather Alert Warning radio. The Superintendent will determine the action to be taken and advise principals.

LIGHTNING STRIKES

Lightning seeks the path of least resistance between cloud and earth and the path will course through any object which stands out because of its height or isolation. That object might be a building, a pole, a tree, an antenna or a human body.

The time reference from seeing the stroke of lightning to hearing the thunder is the Flash-To-Bang measurement of lightning distance:

For each five second count, lightning is one mile away. So 25 seconds = five miles away, 20 seconds = four miles away. At a count of 15 seconds (3 miles) take immediate defensive actions. There are four types of lightning conduction: direct, contact voltage, side flash and lightning channels.

  1. If outdoors, avoid water, hilltops and trees. Avoid all metal objects such as electrical wires, fences, machinery, motors, tools, etc. Avoid direct contact with other people. Unsafe places include tents, small open-sided rain shelters or isolated trees. If any vehicle is nearby, get inside (cloak of metal not the tires that give the protection), closing windows completely.
  2. If outdoors, in a level field far from shelter and if you feel your hair stand on end, it is possible that you will be struck by lightning. Drop to your knees and bend forward. DO NOT LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND!
  3. If in a building: Sound alarm, or sound bull horn if it has not already been done.
  4. Call 911 (utilizing Cellular Phone) Identify the problem and building address.
  5. Avoid touching any metal structures/objects connected to the building that have been struck.
  6. Avoid touching the telephones, computer terminals, and anything metal/electrical inside and outside of the building; however, if the opportunity exists, turn off or unplug all electrical devices.
  7. Stay away from windows.
  8. Avoid plumbing and plumbing pipes/fixtures.
  9. Do not handle flammable materials.

Drought

Response Action:

  1. Upon declaration of Alert, Warning, Emergency, or Drought status by the local water Commissioner, notify Building Principals and Director of Facilities, institute water conservation suggestions as outlined in “Water Conservation Guideline”, State Education Department, July 1981 – Superintendent.
  2. If water is unavailable, Superintendent or designee to close school. *
  3. Superintendent to notify State Education Department, Educational Management Services at (518) 474-6541 and the local office of disaster preparedness at (315) 435-2525. *Note: A drinking water supply is mandated and water is required for sewage system operation.

Flood

Response Action:

  1. During periods of flood watches, Superintendent and Transportation Supervisor to monitor weather and road conditions for updated information.
  2. Close school if conditions warrant- Superintendent and/or designee.
  3. Institute “Go-Home” Plan – Building Principal, Superintendent, Supervisor of Transportation.
  4. If dangerous or impossible conditions preclude going home provide shelter. Remove students to higher portions of the building. If necessary, relocate students to alternate shelter (communicate with Transportation Director). Notify parents.
  5. Call National Grid to deactivate any electrical equipment that is in danger of being inundated by the flooding.
  6. Activate emergency pumping through building and grounds department, as needed.

Recovery Action:

  1. If building is flooded refer to Loss of Building Guidelines.

Pre-plan Action:

    1. If school is not open, make determination to remain closed.

Snow, Wind, Ice, Hurricane

Response Action:

        1. If school is in session, monitor weather and road conditions – Building Administrator.
        2. Superintendent or designee to close school if conditions warrant.
        3. Building Administrator to institute “Go Home” Plan.
        4. If dangerous or impossible conditions preclude going home provide shelter.
          • Continue program schedule, if possible.
          • Confine students to areas inside buildings.
          • If winds are of high velocity and exposure to glass is great, route students to interior hallways or shelters until danger has passed.
          • If confinement time to building will exceed the normal departure schedule, notify parents and prepare for an emergency feeding – School Lunch Manager and Building Principal.

Pre-plan Action:

        1. If school is not open, make determination to remain closed – Superintendent.

Recovery Action:

          1. If school is destroyed, refer to Loss of Building Guidelines.

Note: Since storm damage will be area-wide, county emergency services personnel will be operating on a priority basis. Call 911 if the school situation is at a life safety level such as serious injury or rescue. Use local, in-house personnel first (see Roster of Emergency Personnel).

Thunder/Lightning

Response Action:

          1. Monitor National weather advisories for proximity of the thunderstorm – Superintendent and Transportation Supervisor.
          2. Curtail all outdoor activities, if conditions warrant.
          3. Summon all persons into building(s) – Building Principal or designee.
          4. Continue monitoring of storm – Superintendent or designee

TORNADO

Response actions:

          1. Monitor any National Weather Service tornado watch/warning – Superintendent.
          2. If tornado warning is issued for the county, curtail all outdoor activities. Summon all persons into building(s) – Building Principal or designee.
          3. If tornado sighted in vicinity of school, institute tornado emergency plan:
            • Open all windows and doors to permit equalization of pressures – staff.
            • Proceed to an interior room such as an auditorium or take shelter in hallways at the lowest floor of the building away from windows and out of large rooms such as the cafeteria.
            • Teachers should take their roll books and account for their students in the shelter area.
            • If there is no time to go to the shelter: Squat on the floor next to an interior wall away from windows with head down or get under desks, face down, flat on the floor.
            • After the tornado has passed, teachers will account for all students in their charge and report any injuries or missing students to the Command Post.
            • If there is no damage to school property, resume normal activities.
            • If building is damaged, determine whether students should be sent home or relocated to a secure area. Records will be kept regarding the relocation by Building Principal or designee.
            • Superintendent or designee will be advised of status and situation by the Building Administrator.

Recovery Action:

If building is damaged, refer to Structural Failure Guidelines.