Tornado Safety on the Bus: What Every Driver and Passenger Should Know
This week is Wisconsin’s Severe Weather Awareness Week — a great time to review what to do if a bus encounters a tornado. Below is the plan every driver should know and follow.
Step 1: Assess the tornado’s direction
As soon as you spot a tornado, determine which way it’s moving and whether it’s heading toward you. Your next actions depend entirely on that answer.
Step 2: Do not drive toward the tornado
If the tornado is moving toward your path, turn around. Drive at right angles to the storm’s path if there’s time and distance to do so. If the storm is very close, stop immediately. Do not try to outrun a tornado bearing down on your vehicle.
Step 3: If the tornado is likely to hit your vehicle
If escape isn’t possible, act quickly. If time allows, radio your base with your location and situation, then:
- Evacuate the bus immediately.
- Bring only the first aid kit.
- Tell students and passengers to leave personal belongings behind — but have them bring coats and jackets to cover their heads and bodies.
- Avoid areas with many trees.
- Do not take anyone to an underpass. Despite common belief, underpasses offer little protection and can actually be dangerous — flying debris causes most tornado deaths and injuries.
- Lead students and passengers to the nearest ditch, depression, or ravine. Position them on the upwind (storm) side of the bus, far enough away that the bus cannot roll onto them.
- Instruct everyone to lie flat and cover their heads with their arms.
Step 4: If there’s no time to evacuate
If you hear a tornado warning or spot a funnel cloud and there isn’t time to reach a ditch, keep students in their seats with heads below window level. Have them assume a protective position. Shut off the engine but leave the lights on. Get under the dash, away from the door.
Step 5: If a building is nearby
If there’s a house or building close enough to reach safely, go to the basement and stay away from the south and west walls. Have students shelter under a sturdy table or workbench, away from walls, chimneys, and anything that could fall. If there’s no basement, move to an interior room on the lowest floor — a closet, bathroom, or center hallway works well. Put as many walls as possible between students and the tornado. Covering riders with cushions, blankets, or mattresses can help protect against flying debris.
Step 6: After the tornado passes
Before moving, scan for additional funnel clouds. Once it’s clear, check on your students and passengers. If they’re in a ditch, bring them back to the bus to protect them from the heavy rain and hail that often follows a tornado. Attend to any injuries and notify authorities as soon as possible. Staying calm — and keeping everyone else calm — is one of the most important things a driver can do.
What if you’re waiting to load passengers when a storm approaches?
If you’re parked and waiting when a serious storm moves in, you may choose to stay inside the building until the danger has passed. Make sure the bus office knows about the delay, secure your bus, take the keys, and go inside.
We’ll do our best to announce any Tornado Watch or Warning for our area over the two-way radio. Stay safe out there.
