Date: May 10, 2010

Attention: ASCIP Members

Subject: Preparing for Tornadoes in California

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On January 19th, 2010, the costal areas of Southern California were struck by a tornado. This was an unusual event for California and one that took residents and emergency responders by surprise.

FEMA states "Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this hazard."

Over the last decade, public schools in California have focused on emergency preparedness and ensuring that its campuses are safe. While public schools have addressed many of the natural threats that face California campuses, the tornado often remains overlooked.

ASCIP is encouraging its Members to review their SEMS, NIMS, and EOP's to ensure that tornado procedures are included. While tornado events are rare, having a plan to follow in the event a tornado strikes your campus can greatly reduce the associated liability and speed up recovery operations. Sample tornado response plans may be obtained from ASCIP.

For more information on tornadoes, please visit the FEMA's website http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm.

ASCIP Staff is available to answer any questions regarding emergency preparedness.