A Guide to Developing a
Severe Weather Emergency Plan for
Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Schools

Dear School Superintendent or School Board Chair,

The National Weather Service, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Emergency Management, is pleased to present you with the enclosed comprehensive "A Guide to Developing a Severe Weather Emergency Plan for Schools ." This Guide provides you information necessary for you to develop (or update) plans for the safety of students, teachers, and all other school personnel before, during, and after a severe weather emergency.

This Guide has been adapted specifically for the Inland Northwest. It describes weather phenomena and recommended actions (precautions) that schools can take before, during, and after a Watch, Warning, or Advisory is issued by the National Weather Service. (For example, under what circumstances should buses or a soccer game be delayed?) It addresses how to determine the high wind safety zones in your school. The Guide informs you about the all hazards NOAA Weather Radio and provides a detailed listing of Emergency Alert System Broadcast Stations to monitor. If you desire additional information, there is a list of contact points and phone numbers for the nearest National Weather Service Forecast Office.

Our mission is to serve you with quality weather, hydrologic and climate forecasts using cutting edge techniques in a cost effective manner, to eliminate weather related fatalities and property loss, and improve the economic well being our communities. We hope that you will take the time to ensure that you have an established severe weather emergency plan for the schools in your district. Severe weather does strike. We believe this guide will help schools become well prepared for any form of severe weather. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact your nearest National Weather Service office. Thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,

Ken Holmes
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service - Spokane, WA

CONTENTS

NWS Contacts

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose and General Layout of Guide
B. Who Will Develop Your Plan?

II. SECTION 1 - UNDERSTANDING THE DANGER: WHY AN EMERGENCY PLAN IS NEEDED
A. Lightning
B. Flash Floods
C. Severe Thunderstorms - Hail, Downbursts, and Tornadoes
D. Winter Storms
E. Conclusions

III. SECTION 2 - DESIGNING YOUR PLAN
A. How to Get Emergency Weather Information?
B. How Will the School Administration Alert Teachers and Students to Take Action?
C. Determining Tornado and High Wind Safety Zones in Your School
D. Determining When to Activate Your Plan and When it is Safe to Return to Normal Activities
E. Procedures if Severe Weather Happens Without a Warning
F. Determining When to Hold Departure of School Buses
G. School Bus Actions
H. Need for Periodic Drills and Severe Weather Safety Instruction

IV. SECTION 3 - THUNDERSTORMS, SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTING & DETECTION
A. Basic Facts About Thunderstorms
B. Storm Spotting Techniques
C. NWS Methods of Detecting and Tracking Severe Weather

APPENDICES - REFERENCE MATERIALS
A. National Weather Service Products & Criteria (What to Listen for)

1. Warnings
2. Watches
3. Advisories
4. Statements
5. Forecasts
6. Washington Forecast Zone Map
7. Idaho Forecast Zone Map
   

B. Glossary of Weather Terms
C. General Severe Weather Safety
D. NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies and Coverage
E. Primary Emergency Alert System Broadcast Stations
F. FIPS Codes for NWR-SAME Input
H. Severe Weather Safety Plan Checklist

Webmaster
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Spokane Weather Forecast Office
2601 N. Rambo Rd.
Spokane, Washington 99224

Tel: (509) 244-0110