Students and teachers at Hamilton Heights School Corporation participated in the annual Statewide Tornado Drill, a yearly opportunity to prepare Hoosiers for tornado emergencies and to test public warning systems. The drill is a part of Indiana’s Indiana Severe Weather and Flood Preparedness Week, March 17-23.
Hackman
Cliff Hackman, Hamilton Heights Primary School Assistant Principal and Corporation Safety Coordinator, supervised Tuesday’s drills at the Primary School. As part of the drill, students quickly moved from their classrooms to the inner hallways (the safest place in the building in the event of a tornado), knelt with heads down and covered. The overall time between the start of the drill and a return to the classroom was about five minutes.
“Preparedness drills are an integral part of students’ lives today,” said Hackman, who sees a great deal of value any opportunity to practice for emergencies. Indiana Code mandates that schools conduct scheduled drills for fire, tornado and school lockdowns.
HHPS second-grade teacher Laurie Smucker said they practice tornado drills a couple of times throughout the year. “The practice helps students develop the skills and confidence to know what to do in the event of a real emergency,” she noted.
Staff and students at Hamilton Heights Primary School participated in the annual tornado drill on Tuesday as part of Indiana’s Indiana Severe Weather and Flood Preparedness Week. (Photo provided)
“Our number one priority is helping kids learn and we want to do so in a safe, innovative and nurturing school environment,” said Superintendent Dr. Derek Arrowood. “Our school administrators always welcome the opportunity for students and staff to participate in the annual statewide tornado drill.”
While tornadoes have been reported every month of the year in Indiana, the state’s peak tornado season is typically between April and June. Some 30 years of data from the National Weather Service shows Indiana averages about 22 tornados a year with an average of one tornado in March and November. There are traditionally about five a month in May and June. December is the only month that averages less than one tornado a year. Hamilton County has had 28 confirmed tornados between 1950 and 2017. The last time a tornado touched down in the Heights school district was on Nov. 17, 2013 in Atlanta.