EVACUATION
STAND BY ME In addition to the staff employed full-time by a team or school, it’s important to also work closely with all applicable local agencies and organizations with an investment or expertise in safety and security. At the University of Tennessee, there is a full-time police force on campus that consists of approximately 56 full-time officers. Other key stakeholders involved in the planning process includes Knox County EMS, City of Knoxville Police, as well as the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. When it comes to weather planning, another key partner for the University of Tennessee is the National Weather Service Office located in Morristown. “We have a great relationship with all our stakeholders, and they’re involved in every little detail with pretty much any planning we do,” says Gregory. “We hold weekly game-day meetings on Tuesday of every home football game. We go over schedule, the challenges we see, and we certainly look at the forecast.” Gregory also works with the security company that provide game-day ushers, requiring them to go through training once a year. Every other year, the University of Tennessee does a full-scale exercise, and in those off-years, a tabletop planning session will take place. “The more practice we can get around Neyland Stadium, we know the better we’re going to be if and when an incident happens,” Gregory says. When it comes to successful weather monitoring, not only is it about the right teams, but also the right tools, as well.
When it does reach a point where fans need to shelter-inplace due to extreme weather, Gregory, like most security professionals, relies on tried-and-true communication methods. “We’ll post messages on our video board and LED ribbon around the stadium, as well as through our public-address system,” he notes. “We have an internal stadium public address system and we have speakers that direct out into our sparking lots and tailgate areas. They are pretty loud – you can pretty much hear them off campus. And then we have general announcements that run every 30 minutes.” ABOVE ALL ELSE, STAY COOL The final piece of the weather-preparedness puzzle is the person staring back in the mirror, according to Gregory. “We’re all human, and when a situation occurs, people obviously think about themselves and their families, and that can be a hindrance,” he states. “When everything hits the fan, you have to stay calm and collected and do your job because if you do lose your composure, then the guests are going to sense that and that can have a ripple effect on the process.” By staying cool, following the processes and protocols put in place, and working closely with trusted local partners, even in the most adverse weather conditions, you can confidently see safe and sunny skies in your immediate future. GD
Monitor. Collaborate. Repeat.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones reassure their children that the home venue operators will notify them in some way if they need to take cover from the weather.
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TOOL TIME Sophisticated weather-monitoring devices are critical in successfully preparing for and managing potential extremeweather situations. The University of Tennessee utilizes a software through DTN Weather Monitoring that detects lightning and wind direction. It’s a technology the Vols are now utilizing across its four campuses, not only for athletics events, but for daily use, too. “Technology is vital to our success, and there are new technologies emerging every day,” Gregory shares. “We know what we have now may not be what’s needed in five or 10 years, but it’s vital and we’re always looking for the most cutting-edge product to try and stay ahead of the game.” Maintaining control in collaborative monitoring environments is crucial. Connect your team with Christie’s video wall solutions so they can detect problems before they can’t ignore them. Learn more at controlrooms.christiedigital.com