Indiana spring is here, which means continually changing temperatures. This can bring dense fog, thunderstorms, and lightning. Storms can brew and pop up quickly, so it is important to know your team’s emergency weather plan when these conditions occur. By having a plan, this ensures that you or your co-workers can navigate the situations quickly and as safely as possible. Review Milestone Emergency Weather Plan below:

If a Weather Warning or Tornado Watch is issued in the area or lightning is observed, the onsite supervisor or his designee will verify if a warning is in effect, by weather apps or other resources.

Using a weather application determine the distance of lightning and path of the storm which must be at least 12 miles away for work to continue.

Lightning strikes must be monitored and when it is within 10 miles all work shall cease and employees should take cover in vehicles or buildings as necessary for at least 30 minutes until the storm has moved to a further distance.

Lightning: What You Need to Know

Outdoor Lightning Safety

• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
• Stay in a safe shelter for at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety

• Stay off-corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths, and faucets.
• Stay away from windows and doors and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips

If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills. mountain ridges or peaks
• Never lie flat on the ground
• Never shelter under an isolated tree
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

Tornados or Storms – When conditions develop or warning sirens sound, the supervisor will act on the side of safety. If a warning is warranted:

• Field supervisors shall notify their employees to take cover immediately in an onsite building or low-lying area or vehicle depending on what the conditions warrant.
• Officer Personnel should announce the following as applicable:
• We are under a [Blank] (This may be either a tornado watch, snow advisory, etc.)
• Severe Weather conditions have developed.

In case of Tornado add the following message:

• Move away from the windows
• Close overhead doors in the shop and storage buildings.