TORNADO CHECKLIST

Emergency Management / Incident Commander
 
Planning:
 
Ensure the public is well informed regarding tornado watches and warnings.
Coordinate with the National Weather Service for timely watches and warnings affecting local jurisdictions.
Coordinate with local broadcast media to ensure timely and accurate Emergency Alert System activation.
Coordinate with schools, daycare centers, hospitals, etc. in proper precautions and emergency actions relative to tornado events.
Coordinate and plan at least one exercise (table top or practical) every six years.
Coordinate with local planning boards and inspections departments regarding building codes and code enforcement to minimize damages.
Coordinate the establishment of local laws to strengthen building codes in tornado prone areas.
Conduct hazard analysis of vital facilities and the impact of a tornado on one or more of those facilities.
Procure or produce information pamphlets for distribution to the public, as applicable.
Determine the availability of shelters and obtain shelter agreements if the Red Cross (or designated lead agency) has not.
Coordinate with Red Cross, public agencies and/or the Salvation Army for shelter operations.
Coordinate with Department of Transportation officials for information regarding roads and bridges likely to be used for evacuation.
Coordinate with electric utilities to share information concerning power outages.
   
Response:
 
Identify immediate action or response requirements.
Immediately carry out those action requirements necessary to preserve life and/or property, including the deployment of required resources.
Activate the EOC as appropriate and implement tornado plan, if developed.
Organize or establish the EOC, based on operational procedure or guideline.
Issue alert and warning based on procedure or guideline, as warranted.

Establish communications with responding agencies.
Establish traffic control and security with law enforcement.
Through communications with responding agencies determine as quickly as possible:
 
The location of any established command post:
  Has incident command been established? If not, establish incident command.
  Has the incident commander been appointed or assumed command? Who is it?
  Have incident communications been fully established?
What is the two way radio frequency being used by incident command?
Number of killed or injured.
General boundary of the affected area.
The general extent of damages and any secondary issues such as chemical spills, explosions, flooding, etc.
The general extent of power or other utility disruption.
Immediate needs of response forces.
If voluntary evacuations of the population have begun.
Location of any triage area.
Location of any congregate care area established or ad hoc.
Evaluate overall county situation.
Establish communications with the State.
Establish communications with the National Weather Service.
Establish communications with and request a liaison from affected telephone, electric and gas utilities.
Establish ongoing reporting from the response forces services, private agencies and utilities.
Establish command post(s) as needed.
Coordinate with Red Cross (or designated lead agency) the opening of appropriate number of shelters in the appropriate areas, based on shelter procedure or guideline.
On order, evacuate affected areas with assistance from response forces.
Conduct first staff briefing as soon as practical after EOC / Command post activation.
Activate or establish rumor control through the public information officer (PIO).
Establish a schedule for briefings.
Brief city/county/agency/utility executives.
Provide PIO with updated information.
Provide response forces with updated information, as appropriate.
Cause public information to be released, via the public information officer (PIO) as soon as practical.
Issue action guidance as appropriate.
Establish 24/7 duty roster for the EOC and/or command post.
Develop and post any required maps or diagrams.
Activate an events log.
Ensure all appropriate forms (ICS) are being used to track personnel and resources.
Review and follow resource procurement procedure or guideline.
Inventory additional resources that may be used or called upon for use.
Activate formal resource request procedure or guideline and resource tracking.
Coordinate all resource requests being forwarded to the State.

Activate financial tracking system coordinated by the Finance Officer.
Activate damage assessment and follow damage assessment procedure or guideline.
Develop a 12 hour incident action plan outlining actions that must be accomplished in the next 12 hours.
Conduct a "second shift" or relieving shift briefing, if you are being relieved.
Discuss with and present to your relief, the incident action plan for the next 12 hours.
   
Recovery:
 
Gather damage assessment information (public, housing, business) from damage assessment teams.
Obtain information from Red Cross (or designated lead agency) regarding number of shelterees and support necessary for continued operation.
Obtain from Red Cross (or designated lead agency) an estimated duration period for continued shelter operations, if any.
Obtain information from utilities regarding damage, outages and customers affected.
Assess citizen / community needs for individual assistance and/or public assistance if applicable.
Activate local unmet needs committee if appropriate.
Gather financial information from the Finance Officer.
As appropriate gather additional information to include:
 
Personnel that responded and the time involved in the response.
Time sheets or time logs.
Supplies used.
Contracts issued.
Purchase orders issued.
Any other expenditures.
Damages to public buildings, equipment, utilities, etc.
Loss of life or injury of any responder.
Documents regarding economic impact.
Develop or generate reports for the following, as appropriate:
 
FEMA
State
Local elected officials
County/City /Town Managers
Others requiring or requesting reports
Coordinate recovery organizations including federal and state agencies and private or volunteer relief organizations.
Establish donated goods management based on policy and procedure or guideline.
If a Presidential declaration of disaster is made, file "Request for Public Assistance" to apply for assistance as soon as possible with the proper state or federal agency.
Ensure public officials are made aware of the assistance application process, if applicable.
Ensure the general public is made aware, through the public information officer, of the assistance application process, if applicable.
Perform an incident critique as soon as possible with all possible response organizations.
Review agency and self performance.
Review the weaknesses of the plan.
Correct weaknesses.
Implement hazard mitigation or modify hazard mitigation plan accordingly.
Brief elected officials with updated information and disaster recovery progress.
   

*** End Tornado Checklist ***
Last updated: May 09, 2008