2. Where can you see Tornados ?
Tornados have be observed on every continent except
Antarctica . However the vast majority will occur in
Tornado Alley Region of the United States.
Tornado Alley is from Texas – North Dakota and east
from Kansas – Ohio.
They also occur in Asia, South America, Southern
Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
3. May 20, 2013 Moore Oklahoma
Moore Oklahoma was hit by an EF5 tornado 2 miles
wide with winds speed of 295 mph.
24 people were killed including 10 children at
Briarwood Elementary school. 350 people were
injured.
4. WHAT IS A TORNADO?
A tornado is a violent whirlwind that usually develops
in association with a severe thunderstorm.
The winds in a tornado can exceed the wind speed
measured in the most intense hurricane.
Wind speeds in an intense tornado can exceed 200
miles per hour.
5. These violent winds are what make tornadoes so
deadly. They can uproot trees, down power lines and
over turn cars and trucks.
It is the wind-thrown debris that poses such a serious
hazard to people in the path of a tornado.
6. When is Tornado Season?
Tornados in Florida can form in a variety of ways, and
in all seasons.
. Spring season (February – May ) These can be more
powerful and deadly, because they are formed from
Super Cell Thunder Storms ahead of a cold front .
Summer season (June-September.) The typically occur
along the sea breeze boundary collisions
7. Fujita Tornado Damage Scale
EFO ---60-85 mph
Tree branches down. Chimneys damaged, small trees
uprooted.
EF1 ---86-110 mph
Peels up roof, mobile homes overturned, cars can be
blown off the road.
EF2---111-135 mph
Large trees snapped, roofs torn off frame houses.
Light-object projectiles.
8. EF3--136-165 mph
Severe damage, wall torn off well constructed homes.
Most trees will be uprooted. Heavy cars lifted off the
ground.
EF4—166-200 mph
Well constructed house leveled. Cars thrown and large
projectiles generated.
EF5— 200 + mph
Strong frame houses disintegrated Auto-sized projectiles
fly through the air at 100 mph.
9. Tornado Watch
A Watch: means tornados are possible in your area,
remain alert for approaching storms
A Warning: means a tornado has been sighted or
indicated by weather radar.
10. To know the difference between Tornado Watch and
Tornado Warning.
When a tornado watch is issued the driver should be
looking for a sudden change in weather condition.
Appearance of violent wind, rain and hail or funnel
shaped cloud.
When a warning is issued near or in your area the
driver is to promptly to seek shelter for the students.
The office will give instructions over the radio.
11. If the warning is announced while en route a driver is to go
to a pre-identified shelter or building (school) closest to
their current location depending on the immediacy of the
tornado threat.
Again the office will give you instructions.
12. What to do is your are caught in the
direct path of a Tornado
Do not attempt to out run the tornado
Radio and advise the office of you location & route number.
Do not remain in the bus. Stop and evacuate the passengers.
Move away from the bus and go to the side of the road
without power lines, utility poles or trees. Instruct students
to lie flat, face first toward the ground and protect their
heads. If there is a ditch then get in it.
Do not use bridge under passes for a shelter. This offers very
little protection from flying debris.
13. After the Tornado Passes
Account for all passengers, check for injuries, and provide
first aid if needed. Contact the office as soon as you are
able and tell us what you need.
Before leaving a shelter or the area if out in the open.
Check the sky to see if there may be another tornado
following the same path. Contact the office. Be alert for
downed power lines, ruptured gas lines damage to trees,
buildings roads and bridges.
14. In case of Emergency
Every driver carries an up to date roster of students.
Every driver must keep their route sheet up to date.
This will help in locating your bus.
This is also why explaining all the emergency exits is so
important on you bus drills.
On your bus drill you should also let the students
know where the fire extinguisher is and the location of
the first aid kit.
You should also explain the operation of the Two-way
radio and how to turn off the bus engine.
15. Responsibility of School Bus driver
To be familiar with areas on your route in the event you
are asked to seek shelter.
To have pre-determine shelter options (buildings,
businesses, schools homes) that might be along you
bus route.
19. Hurricanes are giant, spiraling tropical storms that
can pack wind speeds of over 160 miles per hour.
They are capable of dropping more than 2.4 trillion gallons of
rain a day.
These same tropical storms are know as Cyclones in the
Indian Ocean and Typhoons in the Pacific Ocean.
20. Hurricanes begin as tropical disturbances in warm ocean
waters with temperatures of at least 80 degrees.
These low pressure systems are fed by energy from the warm
seas.
Hurricanes spin around a low-pressure center known as the
“eye” which is very calm.
The eye is surrounded by a circular “eye wall” that holds the
storm’s strongest winds and rain.
21. If a storm achieves wind speeds of 38 miles per hour is
becomes known as a Tropical Depression.
A tropical depression becomes a Tropical Storm when the
sustained wind speed tops 39 miles per hour. At that point it
is given a name.
When the storms sustained wind speeds reach 74 miles per
hour it becomes a Hurricane.
22. These storms bring destruction ashore in many
different ways. When a hurricane makes landfall it
often produces a devastation storm surge that can
reach 20 feet high and extend nearly 100 miles inland.
Ninety percent of all hurricane deaths result from the
storm surge.
A hurricanes high winds may spawn tornadoes, they
produce torrential rains that can cause further damage
by creating floods and landslides.
24. School Board Hurricane Plan
LEVEL III- Monitoring-Evacuation Possible
Storm indentified with probability of landfall.
BCOEM alerts school board 72 hours before
arrival of 40 mph sustained winds.
Employees make personal plans.
Employees & volunteers supporting Plan fill out
Daily Activity Report. This is at the schools.
25. Level II - Partial Activation- Evacuation Expected
Storm with probability of landfall in Brevard County.
BOCEM alerts School Board 48 Hours before arrival of
40 mph sustained winds.
Voluntary evacuation of County begins
Superintendent closes schools and activates Level II
Action Plan 36-24 hours before arrival of 40-mph sustained
winds.
Special Needs shelters open 30 hours before arrival of
40mph winds.
Employees with responsibilities under Plan report to
workstations and secure property.
26. Level 1 – Full Activation-Evacuation Ordered
Severe storm high probability of landfall in Brevard.
BCOEM alerts School Board 24 hours before arrival of
40 mph sustained winds.
BCOEM issues evacuation order and implements
emergency procedures.
Superintendent activates Level
1 Action Plan.
Shelters open in sequence and at times directed by
the BCOEM and ARC.
BCOEM would request that Transportation furnish
necessary vehicles and personnel to evacuate
disabled and ambulatory persons.
27. Terms
BCOEM- Brevard County Office of
Emergency Management.
ARC –
American Red Cross.
FDEM-
Florida Division of Emergency
Management
