Severe Weather in St. Louis

[ctt956]

In case of flooding, remember: Unlike last year, game pieces may not be used as floatation devices. Robot bumpers probably won't float(well) either.

[jds2001]

Being originally from STL, it is a tornado-prone area. Nothing to see here, move on.....

I'd imagine that EJD has a plan for if something were to happen, most likely involving shelter-in-place, or evacuation to the concourse. Pay attention to what the venue tells you to do, basically.

This comes up every year.....

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by jds2001

Being originally from STL, it is a tornado-prone area. Nothing to see here, move on.....

I'd imagine that EJD has a plan for if something were to happen, most likely involving shelter-in-place, or evacuation to the concourse. Pay attention to what the venue tells you to do, basically.

This comes up every year.....

2012 it was shelter in place. They advised teams to stay in their seats, though to mixed effect. Up in the 400 seats, it got very loud.

[MooreteP]

There's a history of tornado's and the FIRST Championship.

Atlanta in 2008

2012 in St. Louis

In 2012, I was working security on the floor, checking badges and wristbands, Keeping the photographers and videographers in their pens, when the storm started to erupt.

The Dome staff brought people from the streets inside for their protection.
Unlike Atlanta, The Jones Dome is made of structural steel, and was considered safer than the outside hallways with their large glass windows (shards!)

Unfortunately, there were some intoxicated baseball fans. One even went up to the judges and "greeted" them.
We enticed them out of the immediate arena, and the show went on. I don't think many people noticed this.

The sound of hail on the roof was distracting, but the show went on.
FIRST staff was very concerned and were communicating precautionary measures to us on the field.

I think we will all be safe in the EJD.

I am hoping that the weather won't adversely affect the MLB game between the Cardinals and the Nationals on Friday night.
It's just too amazing to see two high level sporting events within 10 city blocks of each other.
And who knows, if the Blues can get the monkey off their back, they may be playing next week too.

[runneals]

Originally Posted by jds2001

'd imagine that EJD has a plan for if something were to happen, most likely involving shelter-in-place, or evacuation to the concourse. Pay attention to what the venue tells you to do, basically.

Major venues like this have emergency management plans that they put into place if there was a tornado watch/warning issued. Probably the bigger thing that you should be somewhat thinking about is safe places at your hotel and what to do if you are on a bus and see one. This should be all wrapped into the planning that your mentors/coach/safety captain does relating to risk mitigation and contingency planning -- having plans for when the worst should happen.
The SPC in Norman has some great tornado safety tips if you are interested.
PS I have been a trained spotter since 2009 and I've never once seen one (being from Iowa)

[BSV]

Speaking with my RL professional hat on, as a scientist who studies severe weather and interacts with operational meteorologists, emergency managers, etc. on a frequent basis for a well-known national agency:

Originally Posted by runneals

Major venues like this have emergency management plans that they put into place if there was a tornado watch/warning issued.

If only this were true! Some of them do, but many of them do not. Unfortunately, I cannot find a published safety plan for America's Center / EJD online anyplace. I see that the Cardinals and Busch Stadium are StormReady Certified, but not the dome.

Originally Posted by runneals

Probably the bigger thing that you should be somewhat thinking about is safe places at your hotel and what to do if you are on a bus and see one. This should be all wrapped into the planning that your mentors/coach/safety captain does relating to risk mitigation and contingency planning -- having plans for when the worst should happen.
The SPC in Norman has some great tornado safety tips if you are interested.
PS I have been a trained spotter since 2009 and I've never once seen one (being from Iowa)

This is pretty good advice. The main thing is to seek shelter inside, away from windows, in the lowest level you can get.

The St. Louis NWS page is here: http://www.weather.gov/lsx/ -- and it should have up-to-date information.

I'll be monitoring it, and if I see anything I will tweet about it (@wxtrav) and tag #FIRSTChamp. Don't count on that, though, since the phone coverage is pretty sketchy in the dome area.

And whatever you do, don't let your team run outside to video the storm. I know it is amazingly cool (one reason why started doing what I do for a career), but I've seen too many bad things happen to people who thought they would be okay to not be concerned about it.

[SenorZ]

Yikes.
As a team that's not used to "weather" this is especially concerning.

[Hallry]

Severe weather has hit St. Louis a few times in the past:

• http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=106039
• http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=106104
• http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=136914

As mentioned above, I would wager that the safest place to be is inside the Dome.

[itsjustjon]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

Yikes.
As a team that's not used to "weather" this is especially concerning.

In California, its just "light drizzle", "cloudy" or "no clouds and some wind."

We are definitely not prepared for this weather

[Koko Ed]

I had a feeling scary 2012 St, Louis would happen this year.
It's beautiful here right now (me and Abbby came down early). The bad weather sounds like it's hitting during load in.

[Liam Fay]

As someone from San Diego, I will certainly have to brief myself on what to do.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

Yikes.
As a team that's not used to "weather" this is especially concerning.

And teams from the Midwest would be concerned about earthquakes if they were playing in CA. It's all what you are used to.

We have a healthy respect for storms, but not excessive fear.

[BSV]

The April 28, 2012 storm produced $1.6 billion in hail damage. There was no confirmed tornado, but at the time it was the 2nd costliest hail storm in US history.

Yes, there is no need to panic. Just make sure your team knows that it is better to be inside, away from windows, interior room, lowest floor if there is a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning.

Chances are you won't have to use that knowledge, but you want to be prepared in the event that you do.

[216Robochick288]

Originally Posted by BSV

The April 28, 2012 storm produced $1.6 billion in hail damage. There was no confirmed tornado, but at the time it was the 2nd costliest hail storm in US history.

Yes, there is no need to panic. Just make sure your team knows that it is better to be inside, away from windows, interior room, lowest floor if there is a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning.

Chances are you won't have to use that knowledge, but you want to be prepared in the event that you do.

If you are concerned about hail, bring a tarp in the event your windows get hailed on and smashed through. Place electronics you dont carry in (not advised, leave them at home or on your person) and make sure its about as waterproof as you can get. Saw a lot of broken windshields coming out of 2012, and q lot of water damage.

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by 216Robochick288

If you are concerned about hail, bring a tarp in the event your windows get hailed on and smashed through. Place electronics you dont carry in (not advised, leave them at home or on your person) and make sure its about as waterproof as you can get. Saw a lot of broken windshields coming out of 2012, and q lot of water damage.

Or park in covered parking.