School Officials Sheltering Children in the Gymnasium

[Jeff Miller]

I am appalled and angered at the fact that the officials in Enterprise High School sheltered the children in the gymnasium, causing scores of injuries and even possible fatalities.

I would think with all the education that is available these days via internet and other sources that they should simply know better. It is negligent homicide in my opinion, if that is where they put the children for shelter and in fact there were deaths.

I am angered because I cannot see how in their right mind they could possibly think a gymnasium is shelter. When I was little, our elementary school correctly had us huddle in the hallways, the safest place.

I would hope beyond hope that any other school district that practices this sort of "shelter" immediately changes their procedure. This is simply unnaceptable. If I was a parent, I would certainly be beyond outraged.

NOTE: If this belongs in B&G please move.

 

[David Drummond]

I absolutely makes me SICK to hear that they took them to the Gym. I just saw on the NBC station that the 8 deaths WERE confirmed at the high school.

I don't know about all you guys, but I am calling our local schools next week during Texas Severe Weather Awareness week and finding out EXACTLY what the tornado drill format is.

 

[John Wetter]

I also am very upset about this but at the same time it somehow doesn't surprise me...

 

[Brian Emfinger]

its very sad and upsetting as well. But after watching some of the live tv from down there I guess I am not so surprised either. Its just not like it is in the plains where most everyone in a position to help the public (tv mets and the like) do indeed help the public but those guys were clueless. I guess we are seeing some of the answer to that question of why more people die in tornadoes down there.

 

[Robert Edmonds]

On cnn it said,

"Students at Enterprise High School were taking cover in the hallways when the twister hit the building."

So obviously there's conflicting reports.

 

[Grady Joslin]

I know I'll be crossing the line when I say this, and it may not be right for me to say it. So I'll apologize in advance. And this is after reading the Chase Report section about what everyone was talking about the school situation and I wish to add it here to comply with the Chase rules.

But I've seen a similiar scenario before. Thankfully when I witness it, nothing was going on and it was only a drill. But, when I was still in high school, our school administration took us between the main library and the cafeteria in the main hallway. Now in my school, the library walls are nothing but a pain of glass. And behind us, the cafeteria was behind us.

I even muttered loud enough in front of those administrators (I am suprised they didn't hear me) how stupid they were. I told my friend "You may as well count me as a casuailty because we're good as dead here."

After it was over, I wrote a long letter to the director of safety for my school exclaiming how unsafe I felt, leaving my safety in their hands. From that day forward, I don't trust anyone with my safety except myself.

My point is, and I am not saying this about the school administration because I wasn't there and I don't know what happened. But the administration may not even bothered with the severe weather thinking "Oh it will go around us. It hasn't never hit here, why now?" Its the feeling "nothing will happen to us" scenario. I am just hope I am wrong in it.

I graduated high school in 2001. It was my senior year when we were put in that hallway for that drill. And I will never forget that as long as I live. But I think it maybe time for anyone who has a kid in school anywhere prone to tornadoes to ask how safe are their kids?

Again I apologize head of time, because this may not be the time to talk about this here.

 

[Jeff Miller]

My sources were a FOX affiliate that reported this news. If indeed they were sheltering in the hallways, good for them, however, this is what was reported earlier. Although I do not like to post things that later turn out innacurate, In this case, I would be very relieved to find out what I heard was wrong.

 

[David Drummond]

I'm not entirely sure yet Jeff. I was just wanting one report that had a picture supposedly taken in the gym of rescue workers pulling kids out.

At any rate...it was only 2 or 3 years ago I learned of some local schools that was still having the kids open the windows before taking cover in the halls.

This is just a good reminder to follow up on local schools policies and take steps to try and get them changed if they are unsound.

 

[Grady Joslin]

I just heard on the Weather Channel that officals think this maybe an EF3 or EF5. And they also showed the Supercell that formed which formed suprisingly fast. Still a sad scenario all the way around.

 

[Jim Hunt]

MSNBC is now saying the death toll at Enterprise HS is 15. Very, very sad...

 

[Jay McCoy]

Listening to CNn and Fox and they are now saying it wasnt the gym but the auditorium in the middle of the school. Not alot of difference. It is still a wide open roof area without support. Would be just as bad as the gym or a place like walmart. You need alot of walls and supports and the smallest roof area possible. To gather the entire student body into an auditorium is wreckless if not criminal neglegence. I blame not only the school officials but local DEM officials for not going over disaster plans with those school officials. The DEM should help create those plans and they should all know the best/worst places to take shelter. There was no reason for anybody to die. Here in Amarillo our DEM is right there in the plannaing of any kind of emergency the schools may face. From fire to tornado to shootings and the officials know where to put the kids. Our DEM even helps create plans for places like the mall and walmarts in town. They even have little signs up showing where to go in case of tornado.

Looking at the damage I saw brick structures missing roofs and 2-3 walls and cars tossed around like toys. Initial assessment would be strong F3 to weak F4. We should know tomorrow.

 

[rdale]

1) We don't have all the facts, so passing blame based on early news reports is WAY wrong...

2) You are blaming the EMA of that city, when you don't have the slightest idea of their setup... Maybe the city doesn't have an EMA director because of budget needs, or maybe it was a position filled by a friend of the mayor with no EM knowledge, or maybe it was a professional who sat down with the school and spelled out detailed plans and they weren't followed.

Not saying that there will be blame to pass around, just don't do it based on what you saw on TV. No school building is going to take a major tornado without something happening to students, so hard to say "no reason for anyone to die." We can be perfect in prediction and response and people will still die.

- Rob

PS F-Scale is gone, it's EF now. http://skywatch.org/evx.png

 

[Kevin Bowman]

There will be a rush to say this is a Ef5 from the media because of the death toll. That being said, Plainfield High school after it was hit by the F5 was completely redesigned to help prevent flying debris from coming down the hallways

there were some pictures of bare foundations, dont know where it was from and what the buildings were however.

we are all shocked about this but outside of people like us, it is not well known. remember how long it took to dispell the myth of underpasses being safe durning a tornado, even after the Moore F5.

and has been said before, if this does turn out to be a strong/violent tornado (leaning towards strong), the only safe place would be is underground. Maybe all new school should be built with a basement.

There is also reports of them letting the kids leave at 1, maybe there was so much confusion since the storm was on them that that is the reason the people died. If the reports of this turn out to be true, there has to be some serious work down in making sure school administrators MAKE SURE kids do not leave the school till the threat is over. Every school ive been to has done this.

 

[rdale]

"There will be a rush to say this is a Ef5 from the media"

I've never heard news anchors declare F-scale ratings in the past, and since NWS offices can't make that declaration I don't think it would happen now...

 

[Jay McCoy]

1) We don't have all the facts, so passing blame based on early news reports is WAY wrong...

2) You are blaming the EMA of that city, when you don't have the slightest idea of their setup... Maybe the city doesn't have an EMA director because of budget needs, or maybe it was a position filled by a friend of the mayor with no EM knowledge, or maybe it was a professional who sat down with the school and spelled out detailed plans and they weren't followed.

Not saying that there will be blame to pass around, just don't do it based on what you saw on TV. No school building is going to take a major tornado without something happening to students, so hard to say "no reason for anyone to die." We can be perfect in prediction and response and people will still die.

- Rob

PS F-Scale is gone, it's EF now. http://skywatch.org/evx.png

All you have to do is look at the video of the school and where they are pulling out the victims to know that the auditorium was one of the worst places to put the student body. Much of the school including the hallways and most classrooms are still standing. the 2 areas that have totally collapsed are the gym and the auditorium and thats where they were so yes we can summise they screwed up and kids died needlessly.

Also even if they dont have a local EM they have at the least a county EM and there is also NWS offices that can help. One of the jobs of the DEM is to go to the schools and help with plans for such events. That is one of the things we do. We build plans for the whole city but the schools are a top priority. Being part of our local DEM I know exactly what goes into it. But I will say this town is a military base town. Not only do they have the a local EM but they can draw resourses and planning from the DoD as all military towns do. There is no excuse for any school district no matter how big or small to not have proper shelter plans in case of a tornado. And they cant say they werent ready. Not only did they know there was a high risk of severe wx but they had planned on letting school out early so the kids would be home but the wx came in earlier than they figured.


And yes I know all about the EF scale.. Just a habit to only put the F. I am sure I will always do it that way.