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Well I guess I'll start off a story thread.

The story I wanted to share is a couple of years ago I was out playing baseball (currently 15) and these scary looking clouds just drifted right over the playing fields. I little thunder here, and there. The head umpire said just keep playing, and this is all taking place at the old baseball fields near the river. Well the fields were full and there were 5-8 fields there, and as said it was getting a bit shakey; people wanting to leave and all. Suddenly the tornado sirens went off and everyone sped towards their cars and traffic stacked up so fast that noone but the people near the entrance got out. Luckly noone there was hurt, and I don't remember if anywhere else anyone was. Just shows you to play it safe don't risk it too much.

(Emphisis on "too much", you shouldn't just hide inside every second of your life either.)

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Ioncann0ns

I sometimes wonder if there should be a standard set by all schools and when weather threatens, have someone in charge of making a prudent decision to either move indoors, or to dismiss the activities.....I am scared to death we will have a May 3, 1999 situation in our area with lots of folks outside and have a catastrophe on our hands.......

I couldn't agree with you more.

Did you know there are some towns, actually, that feel they are completely safe from tornadoes because of legends of Indians doing ceremonies for protection over their towns?!?

Most people dismiss the weather until it gets bad.  Then they look for answers and get caught un-prepared.

At my kid's school, I am their "volunteer" for keeping the Principal abreast of the weather, and if I'm out chasing (more than likely my kids would be with us or at Grandma's), I will update her after I get off the phone with the station, to keep her informed.

Most of the decision makers know SQUAT about the weather.  Some do know...but many do not.

So, how can you herd everyone to the proper location and then stand and watch for a tornado if the tornado is rain-wrapped?  You've gotta know more than your basic "tornadoes are usually on the back end of the storm".

You need to know the progression of a super cell...the signs are right in front of us...and we chasers know them...and though to you and me, it's common knowledge, I am amazed by how many people I explain these things to say "I didn't know THAT".

Perhaps we should all offer to volunteer our services to the schools, even if it's just a call when things are going to go badly, so our children aren't left to sit through a storm while their Principal is waiting to actually see the funnel before making them turn to shelter. 

Kristi

Just you saying that makes me say," I didn't know THAT!" Totally agree with both of you otherwise. I was once in that situation (as previously posted) and could possibly be in it again, sometimes it makes people wonder who gets put in charge of what...

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Ioncann0ns