Severe Weather Preparedness Drill, The Storm Hits! (Page 11, English)

The Storm Hits!

3:00 p.m.

With the power out other than thunder there is little sound, a brief gust of wind can be heard. Then, BOOM! The roof creaks under the load of 90-100 mph winds. Golfball sized hail driven by the wind breaks out all the westward facing windows and rain and hail pounds equipment and furniture inside the office. A tree falls on one of the corners of the office partially going through the roof. The building creaks under the weight of the wind and trees. Cars and equipment outside are pelted with hail, breaking almost every window. The wind surges and falls, and in a final push rips back the buildings metal roof like a sardine can. The roar from outside gets even louder as sheet rock and building material fall into the office. The winds finally relent, leaving rain pouring into a corner of the breakroom that had its roof removed. Fortunately most of the roof held and all of the buildings walls are still standing, which shielded everyone from flying debris.

A quick check of the room shows that everyone is shaken up but OK. Once you open the break room door you see how much worse it could have been. Hail, rain and wind that entered the building have destroyed furniture and equipment. Since you are all safe at the moment, you stop to assess how to safely leave the building, especially alert to any nearby downed power lines, unstable portions of the building or tripping hazards. You see wires down just outside the front exit and decide it would be safest to call 9-1-1 to get help leaving the building. The dispatcher advises your group to stay in their safe location until help arrives.