State Superintendent's Web Message Archive

Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 21-25

Although tornados can occur during any month of the year, the peak season in Wisconsin is between April and August. This year's Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week will be held April 21-25, with a statewide tornado drill scheduled April 24.

Wisconsin averages 21 tornadoes annually. Last year, the National Weather Service documented 18 tornadoes in Wisconsin. Five touched down in central and northeast Wisconsin on June 7, including the tornado that followed a 40-mile track across Shawano, Menominee, Langlade and Oconto counties, the longest tornado track in the United States in 2007. Already this year, southeast Wisconsin experienced rare twisters in January. On January 7, 2008, two tornadoes touched down in Kenosha County. Officials estimated that the storms destroyed or damaged nearly 100 homes and buildings.

The protection and safety of our children is important. Our public schools already have severe weather safety plans and conduct an annual drill to ensure that staff and students are prepared. Each school's plan is based on an inspection of the areas that provide the best shelter during a storm. Schools without basements, which offer the best protection, use interior rooms and hallways on the lowest floor and away from windows to shelter in place. Safety experts recommend putting as many walls as possible between the students and the storm.

Each school's severe weather safety plan makes special provisions for disabled students and those in portable classrooms. The plan makes provisions for battery backup of the school's weather radio and an alternative method to notify staff and students of approaching danger if the alarm system relies on electricity.

If severe weather is anticipated, schools may delay lunches or assemblies in large rooms. Gymnasiums, cafeterias, and auditoriums offer little protection from tornado-strength winds. Additionally, until the storms have passed, children are safer at school than in a bus, car, or walking home. For this reason, children may be kept at school beyond regular hours to ensure their safety.

Additional information about severe weather safety is available from the Wisconsin Office of Emergency Management. The office has created and distributed a special Tornado and Severe Weather informational resource packet for schools. A link to that packet can be found at http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov.

April 18, 2008 -- Return to message archive index

For questions about this information, contact Debra A. Bougie (608) 266-1598

Last updated on 4/18/2008 1:21:12 PM