By Sarah O’Brien

The weather events of the last few weeks in the Southern United States highlight the importance of having an emergency preparedness plan in place and operational in the event of catastrophic and severe weather.

Whether your employees are in a centralized location or out in the field, it’s absolutely vital to have a contingency plan in the face of life-threatening weather events.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS) have found that taking even the simplest of precautions during severe weather can make all the difference in preparing ourselves and our teams for severe weather. Here are some ways you can prepare now, so that when a severe storm hits, your organization is able to respond in a way that keeps everyone as safe as possible.

Communications

How are notifications about severe weather events communicated?

• Radio or TV notifications
• Local emergency tones
• SMS or App notifications

Many facilities have a plan to notify employees, students, or tenants if a severe situation is approaching, including sirens, tones and plans on how to react. Regardless of how these notifications are sent, it’s vital that everyone knows the terminology and the expectations for what to do next.

It’s also important to have access to notifications during and after a storm has hit. Make sure that your office has a radio or some other device to keep you up to date on what is happening outside.

Watch vs. Warning

Storm watches are different than storm warnings.

Watch – a heightened state of alert – monitor television and radio as well as outside conditions for changing weather.
Warning – a severe weather event is imminent and you need to begin your emergency protocol immediately.

Lightning

In the event of increased lightning activity, employees who work in the field should seek shelter immediately away from windows and other hazards.

The NWS recommends the 30/30 rule for lightning – if you see a flash of lightning and cannot count to 30 before hearing the crash of thunder, you should go indoors and stay indoors for 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.

While taking shelter, remember that telephone lines, metal piping and electrical wiring can conduct electricity and provide a path for lightning to reach you. Avoid using running water, land line telephones or electrical appliances during an electrical storm.

If you’re outdoors and cannot find indoor shelter, go to a low-lying open place away from trees, poles and metal objects. Lay down or squat with your head down and your hands on your knees to make yourself as small of a target as possible.

Winds and Tornados

Most injuries or deaths in tornados and heavy winds are caused by flying debris.

Find shelter immediately away from windows and objects that can be thrown through the air. If you are outside and you cannot find shelter, find the lowest possible area to lay down and cover your head and neck. If you’re driving and you see a tornado, do not try to race the storm. Leave your vehicle and lay down in a low ditch, covering your head and neck.

Flooding

The number one cause of death and injury during severe weather is flash flooding.

Heavy rainfall in a short period of time can cause flooding in areas that you wouldn’t typically consider dangerous, so it’s important for you to be on alert. Poor drainage areas, creeks, streams and other low lying areas can quickly turn into flash-flood hazards.

Juts a few inches of moving water can sweep you off your feet, and water flowing over a road can easily and sweep away cars.

You should never attempt to drive across any flowing water. Sometimes the road you believe is under the water has been swept away, and by attempting to cross it you’re unknowingly driving into a raging channel of flood water.

You should also avoid walking, wading and swimming in flood waters. Not only is the water itself a danger, but there are often unseen obstacles under the water than can trap, injure and possibly drown unsuspecting waders/swimmers. Additionally, electrical objects destroyed by wind or flood water could still be live and cause electrocution.

During flood conditions, flood water is often contaminated by raw sewage, chemicals and other harmful substances. If you come upon flood waters, stop and go another direction. Get to higher ground as soon as possible.

Emergency Response Plan

The best way to survive an emergency weather situation is preparedness. Having a plan in place that everyone knows how to execute is key to keeping everyone safe. Make sure it is understood and practiced often.

Your emergency response plan should outline a designated space for everyone to take shelter in, should the occasion arise. If an emergency is occurring, you may not have much time to respond, so your plan should be able to be executed quickly and efficiently.

Do not leave the facility in an effort to help anyone else. Stay in your shelter until danger has passed.

Develop a comprehensive plan for reacting to severe weather that includes the following:

• • Conditions that activate the plan
  • Chain of command and responsibilities during the plan
  • Evacuation procedures – these need to be specific and should outline the logistical evacuation, and account for all employees
  • Special equipment

Coordinate your plan with other businesses in your building or area, as well as emergency personnel. Communicate your plan to all of your employees, and make sure everyone understands their roles and the expectations.

Review your plan annually, and make it a part of the onboarding information you share with new hires.

We hope that everyone in the path of the storms from the last few weeks is staying safe, and that you can use these tips both at home and in the office to keep yourself and your organization from tragedy. 

For more training on severe weather preparedness, check out this video preview from The BizLibrary Collection:

Additional Resources:

OSHA – Hurricane Preparedness Website

US Government Recommendations for Hurricane Readiness

US Department of Transportation Hurricane Guidelines and Resources (Evacuations)

National Hurricane Center – Warnings, Contacts, Preparedness

Red Cross Emergency Preparation

Ready.gov Evacuation Information

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) homepage

Sarah O’Brien researches and writes on a variety of business topics, including workplace dynamics, HR strategies, and training trends and technology.