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TORNADO PREPAREDNESSCHECKLIST
BENEFITS
Many workplace are vulnerable to natural disasters, such as tornados, floods and hurricanes. A tornado is arguably one of the most destructive types of storms because it may develop almost without warning, appear within minutes and leave little time to react. As a result, it’s especially important to be prepared in advance for tornados in your workplace.
HOW TO USE THE TOOL
Use this checklist to ensure that your workplace and all staff are adequately prepared should a tornado (or any other natural disaster) strike the area.
TORNADO PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST
BEFORE THE TORNADO / YES / NOHave a warning system in place to notify all employees, clients and visitors to the workplaceof an emergency, including a tornado.
Develop a telephone redirection strategy in case the phone service goes out.
Establish a communication plan, such as a secondary toll-free number or website that’s hosted outside of your area. Instruct employees on when, how and what to communicate through these channels following a tornado or other disaster.
Establish a meeting point for all employees, clients and visitors to the workplace to go to if the workplace must be evacuated.
Identify critical employees and make sure they understand what’s expected of them during a tornado. If you’ll need those employees onsite or at a remote location, make travel, hotel and meal arrangements in advance to the extent possible.
If employees will be required to return to the workplace to assist in the recovery process before all services are restored, have an adequate supply of water, firstaid supplies, generators, cleaning supplies, batteries, flashlights and other necessitiesavailable.
Develop a business continuity plan to allow your payroll, benefits and HR functions to operate during and after a tornado or during any period in which access to the workplace is restricted.
Update your employee contact information regularly and at the beginning of any season during which natural disasters, such as tornados, are more likely to occur.
Put your emergency preparedness and response plan in writing and give it to all employees.
Conduct regular drills to prepare employees for the real thing.
DURING A TORNADO: If a Tornado Watch/Warning is issued or if threatening weather is approaching, make sure employees:
Look for the following danger signs: dark, often greenish sky; large hail; dark, low-lying clouds; and/or a loud roar that’s similar to a freight train.
Leave work trailers, even if tied down, because they offer little protection from tornadoes.
Go to a pre-designated shelter-in-place area, such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level. If there’s no basement, go to the center of an interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level, putting as many walls as possible between them and the outside.
Stay away from windows, corners, doors and outside walls.
If possible, get under a heavy piece of furniture and use their arms to protect their heads and necks.
AFTER A TORNADO
Ensure the workplace is safe for re-entry. Note that you may need to have a third-party inspector verify its safety.
Use employee, vendor and client contact information to verify the safety of everyone who was in the workplace when the tornado struck.
If the workplace was evacuated, go to the pre-designated meeting point and ensure you know where everyone is located.
If necessary, activate your phone redirection strategy.
Notify all employees, vendors and workplace stakeholders of the next steps.
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