·
Purpose
·
Establish
procedure to promote the safety of program participants during occurrences of
severe weather.
·
Scope/Definition(s)
The following areas are
addressed by this policy:
·
Removal
of participants and spectators from athletic fields during occurrences of
lightning
·
Building
closures during inclement weather
·
Warnings
for additional severe weather including excessive heat and high winds.
·
Responsibilities
·
It
is the responsibility of Recreation and Parks staff and their designees
(including volunteers) to notify program participants regarding severe weather
and necessary actions.
·
Procedure
·
THUNDER
& LIGHTNING: Once observed or heard,
all athletic fields and outdoor organized program areas must be cleared for a
period of 30 minutes. If observed or
heard again, the 30-minute period begins again.
·
SNOW: When schools are closed/close early due to
inclement weather or if school activities are closed due to inclement weather,
all recreation and parks activities for that day are cancelled. For weekend activities, if the snow emergency
plan is in effect after 8 pm Friday or anytime Saturday, all Saturday
activities are cancelled. If the snow
emergency plan is in effect after 8 pm Saturday or anytime Sunday, all Sunday
activities are cancelled. This includes
activities that occur at school sites, nature centers, New Windsor Community
Room, South Carroll Senior & Community Center and the Robert Moton Center.
·
WIND: When a high wind warning is issued by the National
Weather Service (NWS), outdoor activities shall not operate within close
proximity of trees, power lines and other potential hazards. The NWS defines a high wind warning as
sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for 1 hour or longer or 58
mph or greater for any duration of time.
·
HEAT:
Approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the activity, temperature and
heat index reading should be taken at the site or from www.weather.com or a comparable source. The following are recommended guidelines for
coaches, program leaders and volunteers to follow with regards to Department
sponsored youth activities:
o
Heat
Index – 80-89: Use caution, monitor
athletes carefully for necessary action.
o
Heat
Index 90-104: Use extreme caution;
remove helmets and other equipment if not involved in contact.
o
Heat
Index 105-129: Alter uniforms by
removing items where feasible; practice time should be shortened with low
intensity & limited conditioning.
o
Heat
Index 130 & above: No practice or
games. Activities should be rescheduled
for early/late in day or an alternative date when heat index is lower,
o
NOTE: Some discretion is granted to the volunteers
in making this decision as programs may be occurring at sites with abundant
shade, water & varying breezes. In
all cases, once the heat index rises above 105, programs should allow for
frequent cooling breaks, reduced activity levels and mandatory water breaks of
10 minutes in duration every 30 minutes.
·
EXTREME
COLD TEMPERATURES: Department sponsored youth activities:
o
Temperatures
above 32 degrees: no restrictions
o
Temperatures
between 13 – 31 degrees: Indoor breaks
every 20-30 minutes
o
Temperature
or wind chill is below 13 degrees: No
outdoor activities; Wind chill may be calculated by entering temperature and
wind speed at www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_windchill
·
AIR
QUALITY (AQI Color), AirNow, Department sponsored activities:
o
GREEN: Good, values of index, 0-50. Air quality is satisfactory, and air
pollution posses little or no risk.
o
YELLOW: Moderate, values of
index 51-100. Air quality is
acceptable. However, there may be a risk
for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air
pollution.
o
ORANGE: Unhealthy
for Sensitive Groups, values of index 101-150.
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be
affected. For practices, take more
breaks and do fewer intensive activities.
Watch for symptoms and take action as needed.
o
RED:
Unhealthy, values of index 151-200.
Some members of the general public may experience health effects;
members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Take
longer breaks or move activities inside.
Watch for symptoms and take action as needed.
o
PURPLE: Very
Unhealthy, values of index 201-300. Health
alert. The risk of health effects is
increased for everyone. Move indoors or
reschedule outdoor activities.
o
MAROON: Hazardous,
values of index 301and higher. Health
warning of emergency conditions:
everyone is more likely to be affected. Move indoors or reschedule
outdoor activities.
·
References
·
For further
information, email ccrec@carrollcountymd.gov
or call 410-386-2103