[KYHAM] KEN TRAINING for Sept. 29: Appendix D-1 TORNADO EMERGENCY ACTIONS

[Ron Dodson]

Continuing our review of the Kentucky County Emergency Operations
Plans... This week, we focus on Appendix D-1 of Annex D.

TORNADO EMERGENCY ACTIONS


I.	SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

	A.	All parts of Kentucky are vulnerable to Severe Thunderstorms
or Tornadoes at anytime of the year.

	B.	Advances in technology allow weather forecasters to issue
warnings more reliably and more quickly than ever before.

II.	MISSION

	The mission of the appendix is to outline emergency actions to
be taken when severe weather is imminent.

III.	DIRECTION AND CONTROL

	Direction and Control of this Appendix will be the
responsibility of the Emergency Manager.

IV.	CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

	A.	In the event the National Weather Service issues an advisory
bulletin for a severe thunderstorm watch or a tornado watch for
the area, take the following actions:

		1.	Activate the Emergency Operations Center to the extent 
required.

		2.	Ensure that appropriate information and instructions based
on the latest weather service warnings are broadcast by radio and
TV
stations.

		3.	Alert spotters and implement tornado watch system (instruct
spotters as to location of approaching severe weather and assign
spotting locations to in-field spotters) in the watch area.

		4.	Instruct local spotters to report:

			a.	Type of Condition:

			 1)	Tornado

			 2)	Severe thunderstorm/lightening

			 3)	Funnel Cloud and/or Wall Cloud

			 4)	Damage Wind and speed

			 5)	Damaging Hail and size

			 6)	Extremely Heavy Rain

			 7)	Flooding

		b.	Place or area affected by the severe weather condition.

		c.	Time observed.

		d.	Direction of movement (west to east, etc.)

NOTE:	A tornado WATCH usually covers a very large area, including
many cities and counties.  Therefore, the local government should
relay reports to the National Weather Service and then to the
State EOC
to assist other communities who may also be in the path of the
impending danger.  See Appendix B-4 for contact information for
the
National Weather Service.

	B.	After receiving report of impending danger, especially a
Tornado Warning, take the following actions:

		1.	Direct sounding of local public warning system and follow-up
immediately with EAS and Cable system warning (if available).

		2.	Keep public advised of governmental actions being taken by
the local Emergency Operations Center.

		3.	After passage of a tornado, initiate search for victims. 

		4.	Conduct rescue operations with skilled rescue personnel
trained in Technical Rescue and/or Urban Search and Rescue to
prevent debris
collapse and to assure proper first aid. 

		5.	Provide continuing advice to storm victims on where to go to
obtain assistance; housing, food, medical services, etc.

		6.	Actions to take during the recovery phase, including Damage
Assessment, are addressed in Annex V of this EOP.

		7.	Close out emergency operations and submit reports as
required.