School tornado drills
Millions of American children practice tornado drills each year. Some of the practices are excellent. Some are dangerous. Here is what actually works.
The stakes
May 20, 2013 — an EF5 struck Plaza Towers Elementary in Moore, OK. 7 children died. The building collapsed onto the safest interior hallway where kids had been sheltered.
The tragedy prompted rebuilding of Plaza Towers with a certified storm shelter. It also prompted national conversation about what schools actually need.
The current recommendations
- Interior rooms on lowest floor.
- Small rooms preferable (bathrooms, closets).
- Away from large-span roof areas (gyms, cafeterias, auditoriums).
- Windowless if possible.
- Kids sit with backs to interior wall.
- Kids in "drop position" — hands over head, face to floor.
- Duration: 5-30 minutes typically.
- Never in mobile classrooms — evacuate to main building.
The buildings that fail
The buildings that survive
The gym problem
Sports gymnasiums have large clear-span roofs. During tornado warnings, kids often congregate in gyms — the WORST place to be.
The 2013 Moore EF5 destroyed the Plaza Towers gym. The 2013 Briarwood Elementary EF5 damaged their gym. Multiple other schools have lost gyms.
Modern guidance: NEVER shelter in gyms during tornado warnings.
The mobile classroom crisis
- Mobile / portable classrooms are common in growing districts.
- They are functionally equivalent to mobile homes.
- Zero survivability in EF2+.
- Best practice: evacuate to main building before storm arrival.
- Never shelter in mobile classroom.
- Districts should prioritize replacing with permanent construction.
The drill itself
- Announce drill or actual warning.
- Kids move to interior room quickly.
- Assume drop position.
- Cover head with hands or books.
- Backs to interior wall.
- Silent — teachers need to communicate.
- Stay in position until all-clear.
- Do not release students until confirmed safe.
What kids should know
- Their location in the school and closest shelter.
- That drop position saves lives.
- Not to run outside during drill.
- Not to check phones.
- That parents will come get them after.
- That they should not text — cell networks jam.
- That the drill is important.
Parents' role
- Do not go to school during tornado warning.
- Do not create traffic congestion for emergency responders.
- Wait for release signal.
- Have alternate pickup adult authorized.
- Emergency contact list up to date.
- Kids know your phone number.
For administrators
The Moore rebuild model
After the 2013 Moore tornado, Oklahoma legislature passed HB 1990 requiring wind-safe rooms in new schools. Federal funding through FEMA HMGP covers most costs.
Nearby districts have followed. Some states remain uncovered.
Even in states without mandates, individual districts can raise bonds for shelters.
For schools without safe rooms
- Community shelter partnerships (churches, businesses).
- Reinforced interior classroom identification.
- Extended lockdown of school if storm ongoing.
- Bus company coordination for evacuation.
- Regular audit of shelter integrity.
- Insurance evaluation.