Severe weather is one of the top crowd management worries on venues’ operational lists. Meteorologist Brad Nelson at DTN recommends the following steps:
Develop a lightning-specific safety plan, which should be customized based on venue location, time of year, size and type of event, and the time needed to evacuate. Remember, the only safe action is to get people into a safe building or vehicle.
Designate someone to monitor the weather and make the decision to evacuate. This can be a consulting meteorologist, who can provide information and recommendations to officials.
Plan ahead. Stay alert to severe weather watches, warnings and advisories.
Predetermine the closest “safe structure or location” and how much time you will need to evacuate everyone to that spot.
Lightning awareness begins at the first sign of lightning threat, no matter how far away. This includes dark skies, lightning rumbles or flashes, lightning storm alerts, and rain.