Tornado Plan

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TORNADO PLAN

“Weather Alert – Event”

DEFINITION:
Weather conditions exist in the Upstate and/or immediate area for a tornado to possibly touch down.
MITIGATION / PREPARATION
  • Structural Integrity of Facility
  • Weather Emergency Communications (TV, NWS)
  • Employee Awareness / Weather Alerts
  • 24/7 Weather Monitoring
  • Emergency Generator
  • Staff Education
/
  • Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) Implementation
  • Response Plans
  • Staff Education / Drills
  • Mutual Aid and Sheltering Agreement (MASA)
  • Hazard Vulnerability Analysis
  • Equipment and Supplies
  • Communication Systems
  • Tracer Activity

RESPONSE / RECOVERY
  • HICS Activation
  • Staff Response
  • Emergency Event Announcement
  • Communication Systems
/
  • Damage Assessment
  • Evaluate Structural Integrity
  • After Action Report / Review
  • Inspect and Service Equipment
  • Replenish Equipment and Supplies
  • Plan Structural Repairs
  • Submit Reimbursement
  • Maintain HICS

The purpose of the Tornado Plan is to prepare SRHS employees for a tornado warning.

It is important to distinguish between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.

Alert / Definition / Tornado Plan Activated?
Tornado Watch / Weather conditions are right for a tornado. / No. No overhead page. Communication and security staff monitors conditions closely.
Tornado Warning / A tornado has been sighted in SpartanburgCounty. / Yes, Overhead page “Tornado Warning”
Security report to 8 Tower to monitor. .
Tornado sited in our immediate area / A tornado has been sighted in SpartanburgCounty / Yes, if location and track of storm indicate a path towards the hospital Overhead page “Tornado sited in our immediate area”

Communications

Communication will monitor the weather channel 24/7 for any evolving weather conditions.

Spartanburg Country Communications (911) will notify SRHS Communications of all Tornado Warning in Spartanburg County.

When a Tornado Watch is noted Communication will alert Security of weather conditions. No overhead page will be issued.

When a Tornado Warning is noted Communications will initiate the Tornado Plan by sounding the emergency tone and paging, “Severe Weather - Tornado Warning” three (3) times at one minute intervals.

Tornado Sighted in our Immediate Area

If the hospital receives word that a tornado is approaching the direction of the hospital, the emergency tone will be sounded again, and a “Tornado Sightedin Our Immediate Area” will then be issued.

Immediately notify the following departments.

Security / 66333
Safety Officer / 809-9299
Emergency Manager / 809-9546
HBO / 61650
ChildDevelopmentCenter / 64160
Transportation: / 64118
Pediatric Clinic (Pre-fabricated building) / 66287
Cardiac Rehab / 64250
SHRC / 66941/63280
Outpatient Clinic / 66809
Cardiac Rehab / 64250
Security

Send an officer to 8T (the highest internal part of the hospital) with a pair of binoculars to scan the horizon for tornadoes. If the officer sights a tornado, he/she should call the emergency operator immediately.

Patient Care Areas

Move all patients who can be moved away from windows and cover them with extra blankets and pillows. Do not move patients into hallways. This could create a dangerous traffic jam in the hallway.

When the “All Clear” is issued, notify all staff, patients, and visitors. Remove extra blankets and pillows and re-open blinds and curtains as appropriate.

Guest Services

Guest Services staff assigned to lobby area will urge people to move away from the windows and advise all visitors leaving the building that a tornado warning is in effect.

Non-Clinical Staff in Non-Clinical Areas

If you are a non-clinical staff member in a clinical area (e.g. Environmental Services, Facilities, secretary, etc.), your role is to assist the clinical staff. Report to the nursing station for your assignment

When you hear the overhead page (“Tornado Warning”), immediately notify all surrounding staff members and visitors of the alert.

If you have a lobby area and/or a conference room area in/outside your immediate department, dispatch someone to close all blinds and curtains and to inform and move individuals away from the windows.

If the hospital receives word that a tornado is approaching the direction of the hospital, the emergency tone will be sounded again, and a “Tornado Sited In Our Immediate Area ” will then be issued. If you hear this alert, prepare all staff, and visitors in your area for possible damage which may occur in a matter of seconds. Everyone should stay away from all windows, and everyone should stay in the hospital since the building offers shelter.

When the “All Clear” is issued, notify all staff and re-open blinds and curtains.

OTHER DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Administration

If a tornado damages any buildings, open Emergency Opertion Center and activate HEICS.

Obtain immediate damage asessments from all area.

Detemine any areas requiring evacuation or relocation.

Initiate other actions as detemine by the HICS staff.

Off Campus Departments

All off campus department will have a weather radio and designate a staff member to monitor during time of business hours.

Home Care

The Switchboard operator will monitor the weather radio. In the event of an Tornado Warning and overhead page will be given “Tornado Warning Spartanburg Country”. Regional Home Care has services in Spartanburg, Union and Cherokee counties and will monitor and announce Tornado warning for all areas. Team Leaders will page or call staff that is out of the office providing care in affected area.

Originated:12-3-90

Reviewed:October 2004, March 2005

Revised:4-25-97, 4-17-98, 4-22-99, 8-7-00, 3-20-01, 2-6-03, 2/20/06, June 2007, November 2008

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