The Skokie Baseball & Softball League aligns their weather policy with the Skokie Park District. Both follow the guidelines set by the Park District Risk Management Agency, or P.D.R.M.A.
Programs such as golf, aquatics, day camp, softball and soccer leagues have an inherent weather-related risk. For these programs, it is a good idea to have your pre-season emergency response plan reviewed by staff and your Safety Committee. PDRMA members’ loss experience reveals that lightning is the predominant threat in weather –related incidents.
Severe Weather Lightning Emergency Planning
Monitoring – Although severe weather can occur without warning, the National Weather Service has made dramatic steps over the years in predicting weather and issuing “watches and warnings” for emergency weather situations. Agencies should monitor changing weather conditions to determine the need for relocation, suspension or cancellation of outdoor programming. This can be accomplished
through:
“WATCH” Members should consider relocation or suspension of activities based upon the threat until severe weather has passed. In many areas adequate shelter may not be available to meet the volume of patrons, especially if the majority are minors. Strong consideration towards rescheduling or suspension of the activity should be
made.
“WARNING” Member should immediately inform patrons of the imminent danger and assist them in seeking appropriate shelter. Members should consider the means in which the “warning” would be made.
Communications – Once an agency knows of potentially hazardous weather, the information needs to be conveyed to those who may be affected. It is equally important that if a problem exists at a remote site, those personnel need to be quickly contacted. Some type of communication (i.e., cellular phone, two-way radio, pay phone, power megaphone, air horns, etc.) should be available for emergency communications. Whenever lightning is observed or thunder heard, patrons should be informed of the weather conditions and outdoor programming should be suspended for a period of no less than thirty minutes after the last lightning is observed or thunder heard.
For a special event or ball field complex, a P.A. system or bullhorn can be used to inform participants of the need to evacuate.
Shelter – Another often overlooked aspect to the emergency response plan is where persons will be instructed to seek shelter. For example, a day camp that meets at a remote park facility could possibly not have an adequate shelter area for all patrons. It is important that either alternate shelter locations be designated or that the early warning procedures be enforced even more strictly so that participants and staff are not trapped without shelter. In the event of a severe weather situation, it is recommended that minors not be
sent home without parents or guardians.
Transportation – Based upon site specific needs, transportation may need to be part of your emergency plan. It may be appropriate to send an agency van or bus to transport a group located at a remote site in advance of the oncoming severe weather. However, it must be cautioned that this must be done only when sufficient time exists to complete the transport well in advance of the approaching weather.
Programs such as golf, aquatics, day camp, softball and soccer leagues have an inherent weather-related risk. For these programs, it is a good idea to have your pre-season emergency response plan reviewed by staff and your Safety Committee. PDRMA members’ loss experience reveals that lightning is the predominant threat in weather –related incidents.
Severe Weather Lightning Emergency Planning
Monitoring – Although severe weather can occur without warning, the National Weather Service has made dramatic steps over the years in predicting weather and issuing “watches and warnings” for emergency weather situations. Agencies should monitor changing weather conditions to determine the need for relocation, suspension or cancellation of outdoor programming. This can be accomplished
through:
- Listening to weather forecasts/cable Weather Channel.
- Purchasing weather radios.
- Purchase of lightning detection systems.
- Visually monitoring the changing weather conditions.
- Any combination of the above.
“WATCH” Members should consider relocation or suspension of activities based upon the threat until severe weather has passed. In many areas adequate shelter may not be available to meet the volume of patrons, especially if the majority are minors. Strong consideration towards rescheduling or suspension of the activity should be
made.
“WARNING” Member should immediately inform patrons of the imminent danger and assist them in seeking appropriate shelter. Members should consider the means in which the “warning” would be made.
Communications – Once an agency knows of potentially hazardous weather, the information needs to be conveyed to those who may be affected. It is equally important that if a problem exists at a remote site, those personnel need to be quickly contacted. Some type of communication (i.e., cellular phone, two-way radio, pay phone, power megaphone, air horns, etc.) should be available for emergency communications. Whenever lightning is observed or thunder heard, patrons should be informed of the weather conditions and outdoor programming should be suspended for a period of no less than thirty minutes after the last lightning is observed or thunder heard.
For a special event or ball field complex, a P.A. system or bullhorn can be used to inform participants of the need to evacuate.
Shelter – Another often overlooked aspect to the emergency response plan is where persons will be instructed to seek shelter. For example, a day camp that meets at a remote park facility could possibly not have an adequate shelter area for all patrons. It is important that either alternate shelter locations be designated or that the early warning procedures be enforced even more strictly so that participants and staff are not trapped without shelter. In the event of a severe weather situation, it is recommended that minors not be
sent home without parents or guardians.
Transportation – Based upon site specific needs, transportation may need to be part of your emergency plan. It may be appropriate to send an agency van or bus to transport a group located at a remote site in advance of the oncoming severe weather. However, it must be cautioned that this must be done only when sufficient time exists to complete the transport well in advance of the approaching weather.
