hello everyone im new to the forum and would like to share an idea iv had in my head for quite a while. I live in st clair county alabama a county on the outer edges of the birmingham metro. As we all know schools and severe weather are very important topic. I believe that schools could make better decisions on what to do if they know what a storm is doing on before it arrives. My plan is to have contact information for the schools in my county and provide them information up to the minute of what is happening through my spotting and chasing and through the local skywatcher chat. this is just an idea and something i would try in the future. I guess you could say this is a feeler of interest, do you think this could be a valuable asset to schools

I think you have a good idea. Go for it! Just always remember to not let the bureaucracy get to you.

Now my two cents:
Scenario - SPC has a high risk out for an area - cancel school for a day. Ok, yes there would situations when sending the kids home would be a stupid idea especially if storms are already initiating. I'm talking about when there is ample forecast time.

Most schools have NOAA Wx Radios which provide ample warning time ahead of severe storms.
As a parent, my biggest concern is that school administrators have solid knowledge on where the best areas for sheltering the students inside any given school is.
Far too many have resorted to gyms, lunchrooms and hallways.

I think places (the south) in particular still need a little more preemptive preparations, but then I'm not there I'm sure everyone has their antennas up.

I know of two incidents where my relatives live (the south) of schools being hit or close to the tornado. There is also Enterprise, AL. the list goes on...

Like I always said if a recreational storm chaser can have information at their fingertips. Then, why not more for a school.

SkyEye: I think they chose those spots because it takes valuable time to move all of the students to a safe spot. I do agree with you...

from my experinance going to school in an area that is frequented by tornados and running many drills in preperation for the day we might need it i think it takes entirley too long to get students into the hallway and doing what they are supposed to do so i believe that is one major reason why they choose what they do and also there is the issue of the restrooms whitch are about the only good place in most schools i have been to can not accomodate the nuber of students in the building at any given time. I think if there were a new school being built in tornado ally making a shelter toward the middle of the school or even an underground area would be great but for what most administrators have to work with i think they are doing a great job!

SkyEyeJo wrote:
Most schools have NOAA Wx Radios which provide ample warning time ahead of severe storms.
As a parent, my biggest concern is that school administrators have solid knowledge on where the best areas for sheltering the students inside any given school is.
Far too many have resorted to gyms, lunchrooms and hallways.

Ah I remember the days of school during a tornado drill. For some odd reason I always got the spot right next to the double doors, that had big glass windows in them. I always remember thinking great well I will get to see the tornado before I kiss my butt goodbye.

I think its a good idea but I do think schools are given warnings in good time.

If it takes too long to get students into a hallway, how much longer will it take to get them to a gymnasium, cafeteria, or what not? Don't they have to pass through at least one hallway to get there from a classroom?

thanks for all the replys and i agree with the problem of student placement the school i graduated from last year was a two year old building and very unsafe. It was unsafe because there was glass everywhere way to much glass finding a "safe" place was hard to come by. My idea would be to provide schools with information on severe days as to what the weather is doing just so they are up to date and when warnings are issued let them know if taking action is necessary because let's face it if a warning is issued most of the time there is no reason for every school on that county to take shelter

jaxND wrote:
I think places (the south) in particular still need a little more preemptive preparations, but then I'm not there I'm sure everyone has their antennas up.

I know of two incidents where my relatives live (the south) of schools being hit or close to the tornado. There is also Enterprise, AL. the list goes on...

Like I always said if a recreational storm chaser can have information at their fingertips. Then, why not more for a school.

SkyEye: I think they chose those spots because it takes valuable time to move all of the students to a safe spot. I do agree with you...

Uh, yes... The south (at least our area) is lacking in storm preparation. In our area, I don't believe that people take storms very seriously. I'm sure in the midwest that the school have it together.

We have released school due to impending severe weather (a couple of years ago), which I thought was kind of dumb. Send a bunch of kids out an hour or two before supercell thunderstorms hit. Smart! I don't know. If I were a parent, I think I would rather my kid be at school than either on the bus or driving around during the storm! If they cancelled school all day, around here parents would be in an uproar!

Anyway.. it's tough. I definitely think that there is a lot of room for improvement. Huddling kids in a gym.. You'd think they know better, but I know it happens here!! I know we used to go to the LIBRARY! All I (at the tender age of 7) could think about was all those shelves and books falling on top of me!

When I referred to the South, I meant that they typically have tornadic activity during months that most of the country is under snow/ice. Just in case of misinterpretation.