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This information can be found in the Emergency Action Plan binder, in Category 7A: Weather Emergency/Tornado.

You can also go to the Emergency Action Plan on Insite by clicking on the pages above.

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BranchesData CenterMain Library

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This information can be found in the Emergency Action Plan binder, in the “Shelter Areas” pages.

You can view and print out the shelter locations by clicking on the pages here.

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Emergency Response KitWeather radioCell phone

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Library staff must make an announcement to patrons.

At Main Library, announcement is delivered through public address system. Click on the picture to listen to the announcement that plays over the public address system at the Main Library.

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There are four different ways you could be alerted when there is severe weather:

Tornado sirensWeather radioCell phonePhone tree

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Tornado sirens are located at multiple locations within the county. However, a tornado siren indicates that there is a warning for the entire county, not a specific area. Tornado sirens are activated to prompt you to seek information, so you should immediately listen to your weather radio or other media to find out if severe weather is approaching.

Click the map to see the tornado siren map for Allen County.

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All branches and the Data Center have a weather radio. Weather alerts are sent out by NOAA, including test announcements which are broadcast on Wednesdays between 11am and 1pm. Their transmissions cover a wide area, encompassing all of Allen County. If you’d like to learn more, you can click on the map to learn about weather radios.

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Wireless Emergency Alerts are a relatively new development in communicating emergencies to the public. According to CTIA, or The Wireless Association®, Wireless Emergency Alerts is a national emergency alert system to send concise, text-like messages to users' mobile devices. Mobile users will not be charged for receiving these text-like alerts and are automatically enrolled to receive them.

There are several different types of alerts which can be received through the Wireless Emergency Alerts system: Presidential Alerts,Imminent Threat Alerts, for natural and manmade disasters, and Amber Alerts.

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Wireless providers representing nearly 97 percent of subscribers are participating in distributing wireless emergency alerts.

Click on the graphic if you’d like to read more about this system.

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The Security Center at the library monitors the weather statements and radar.

When weather warnings are received, they are passed along to senior managers, branch managers, and librarians in charge through the telephone tree.

Only weather warnings, not watches, are communicated via the telephone tree.

SAFETY TRAINING: TORNADO AWARENESS

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You can prepare for a weather emergency like a tornado by talking with your coworkers about how you will work together to accomplish these tasks. Consider your patrons, the building, and the shelter area.

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After you talk about what will need to happen, you can decide on possible roles for each staff member. Let your coworkers decide on their best roles: some staff may feel more comfortable helping patrons than making sure they remember to bring the emergency response kit, weather radio, and cell phone.

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Conduct a drill at your location. Plan the day and time you will conduct the drill, and make sure staff members have it marked on their calendars.It only takes a few minutes, and can be a very useful way to practice what you will do when the next tornado strikes.

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Finally, you’ll want to stock the Emergency Response Kit for your agency. Remember, the ERK is not the same as first aid kit. Unlike the first aid kit, which is attached to the wall in pantry areas, the ERK is portable so that you can bring it wherever you need it. It contains first aid supplies, plus tools, a flashlight, caution tape, and other items.

This is a good time to change flashlight batteriesAnd to change the weather radio batteries

If you are at the Main Library, the emergency cabinet by the theater contains all of these supplies and more.

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You can find some more interesting information about tornadoes by clicking on the Red Cross Tornado Safety Checklist flyer on this slide.

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