Communications During a Tornado Warning condition, the Department of Pub1ic Safety Services personnel are in complete charge and have authorization to direct the Procedures stated herein. Also, many times during severe weather Ottawa County Sheriffs Dept. Dispatch is shut down to a minimum due to the weather. They will only transmit emergency traffic to the Duty Officer due to their additional responsibilities at the time. When emergency evacuation from a building becomes necessary, special attention must be paid to the safety of persons with disabilities.
Good planning is the best defense against unnecessary accidents and confusion.
If persons with disabilities are frequently present in your office, classroom, residence hall, etc., discuss evacuation plans with them. Travel with them over possible exit routes, identify potential obstacles and ask their opinions. A volunteer should be pre-selected who will be responsible for the safety of persons with disabilities. Special attention should be paid to upper levels of buildings with elevators which cannot be used in emergencies. Mobility-impaired persons should be evacuated by untrained personnel only when the situation is life threatening.