BATH TOWNSHIP, Allen County, Ohio (WLIO) — Schools across Allen County and the state of Ohio practiced tornado preparedness Wednesday.
Gov. Mike DeWine has designated this week as Severe Weather Awareness Week, urging Ohioans to review their plans for tornadoes, thunderstorms and other weather emergencies. At 9:50 a.m., all 50 of Allen County’s outdoor warning sirens were tested, and schools were encouraged to practice drills.
At Bath Elementary School, students and staff lined interior hallways and reviewed their safety procedures. In a real emergency, staff would make an announcement over the intercom, then guide students to designated areas on the first floor. Classes would shelter in hallways, crouched low and away from windows and doors.
Staff say practicing these steps is critical so students and teachers can respond quickly in an emergency.
"In those moments, they happen quickly," said Cory Hilty, assistant principal at Bath Elementary School. "You know, you don't necessarily have all the information, so people have to know what to do without thinking. We want to try to think about safety like we have everybody's most prized possession right in our building. So, our safety is number one. And number two, we're going to do this calmly, safely, and try to ease concerns about what a drill looks like."
Safety officials say outdoor sirens are only meant to alert people who are outside. They recommend having multiple ways to receive warnings.
"If you're inside, they're not expected to necessarily be heard there," said Jared Gesler, director of the Allen County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "You should have other ways of being notified as well. So, staying aware of what the weather is going to be coming up, listening to the weather forecast and being in tune with the news."
To sign up for Allen County’s emergency alert system or find more safety resources, visit https://allen-ema.com/.
