Five Diamonds Severe Weather Policy SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT It is the mission of Five Diamonds Inc. to ensure that weather, specifically ice, snow, fog and heat, and the occurrence of severe weather, specifically severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning and flash flood events, minimally impact players, coaches, umpires and families at Five Diamonds Complex located in Waukesha, WI, on approximately 40 acres south of Les Paul Parkway (Highway 59/164) and west of Milky Way Road. Photos and descriptions of the physical property are found in Appendix B within this policy. Overall Goal - This policy identifies possible weather threats at Five Diamonds Complex and supplies steps to minimize or eliminate their impact to players, coaches, umpires and families and any other person on Five Diamonds property at the time of or before a severe weather event. SEVERE WEATHER RESPONSIBILITY In the event of severe weather approaching Five Diamonds Complex, the responsibility to assess and execute this plan will fall primarily to the General Manager or any person assigned primary duties. The steps and decisions will be made by the General Manager or person assigned primary duties. Primary duties are assigned by the General Manager and/ or Owners of Five Diamonds, Inc. Primary duties are as follows: To have a general understanding and awareness of the weather forecast and basic severe weather spotter techniques To alert the coaches and umpires of possible severe weather or weather that may impact safety, field conditions or both To make sure coaches and umpires know how to respond to 5 Diamond Severe Weather Policies To be able to activate severe weather notification at Five Diamonds Complex once weather and severe weather thresholds are reached To ensure every person at Five Diamonds follows severe weather procedures To remain at Five Diamonds Complex for duration of weather or severe weather event or until everyone leaves To inspect fields and grounds after a weather event and determine if it is safe to resume games and practices Five Diamonds Severe Weather Policy Page 1 *This Five Diamonds Severe Weather Policy is the copyrighted, proprietary work of Mark McGinnis. It is provided solely for the use of Five Diamonds, Inc. in connection with the administration and operation of the Five Diamonds Complex. It may not otherwise be reproduced, excerpted or used without the express written consent of Mark McGinnis. ©2012 Mark McGinnis. All Rights Reserved. SEVERE WEATHER THREATS Five Diamonds Complex is used by teams for practice and games from March through October in a typical calendar year. During this timeframe, here are list of weather threats: 1) Ice and Snow: Typically ice and snow would be a possible issue in March and April. In October, ice and snow are very uncommon but possible. The most common appearance would be of ice and black ice in the morning hours on the property in March, April and October. Snow of any significance, more than a dusting, would likely cause poor playing conditions and cancellation of practices and games. Nonetheless, any amount of ice or snow needs treatment or removal. 2) Fog: Five Diamonds Complex is located on former farmland with retention ponds and swamps nearby. The property sits in a low spot with hills to the south and east. This sheltered location makes the property susceptible to morning fog. Limited visibilities and the inability to track a white baseball, moving at a high rate of speed, due to fog endanger players and spectators. 3) Rain: A steady soaking rain lasting hours or bursts of heavy downpours associated with thunderstorms can render fields unplayable and dangerous. 4) Lightning: Five Diamonds Complex is located in an open field with tall high voltage electric lines on the east end of the property. Six of the fields have chain link fences that surround most of the fields, if not all, and go into the dugouts. Six of the fields also have tall metal lights for night games. The property is very exposed to the dangers of lightning. 5) Severe Thunderstorms: Thunderstorms are possible at all hours of the day but are most common between the hours of 3pm and 7pm. A severe thunderstorm, as defined by the National Weather Service (NWS), is a thunderstorm with winds in excess of 58mph, large hail in excess of 1” and/ or a tornado. If any of those three are possible, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued. If a tornado is imminent or has been seen by trained severe weather spotters, a Tornado Warning is issued. 6) Heat: Intense heat combined with humidity and sunshine can create dangerous conditions. The most likely time is from late morning through the evening with the young and elderly most susceptible to the heat. Sunburn, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the dangers of intense heat and humidity. WEATHER AND SEVERE WEATHER TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 1) Ice and Snow: Ice most often happens without official advisories. Ice accumulation needs to be manually inspected when temperatures are forecast to be below or around freezing. However, snow is a highly publicized weather event in Wisconsin. As mentioned, even an inch of snow can render fields unplayable. Here are terms used by the National Weather Service (NWS) and media for snow and winter weather. A. Winter Storm Warning: Snow of 6 inches or more in 12 hours or less or snow of 8 inches or more in 24 hours or less is forecast. The snow may mix with freezing rain and sleet. B. Blizzard Warning: Snow and/or blowing snow and 35 mph winds reducing visibilities for 3 hours or more. C. Winter Weather Advisory: 3-6” of snow forecast in 12 hours or less. Snow may mix with freezing rain and sleet. Five Diamonds Severe Weather Policy Page 2 2) Fog: Fog is most common in the morning hours. If visibility is greatly reduced a Dense Fog Advisory may be issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). A. Dense Fog Advisory: Visibilities ¼ mile or less for at least 3 hours. 3) Rain: Rain is also a highly publicized event. It may not require an official advisory, especially in a long duration light, steady rain event. But, in the event of flooding, the following terms may be used by the National Weather Service (NWS): A. Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory: Flooding that may create an inconvenience within the next 24 hours. B. Flash Flood Warning: Flooding that causes a threat to life and property within 6 hours of causative event. C. Flood Warning: Flooding that causes a threat to life and property within 6 to 12 hours of causative event. 4) Lightning: This is the most likely cause for delays and the greatest threat to people at Five Diamonds Complex. By definition, all thunderstorms have lightning. There are no advisories for lightning, but if you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. 5) Severe Thunderstorms: In the event of severe thunderstorms, a highly publicized warning system already exists in many forms. Here are terms used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in regards to severe thunderstorms: A. Severe Thunderstorm Watch: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued when thunderstorms with winds over 58 mph and hail in excess of an inch are possible. The area impacted and time duration is included in the Watch. B. Tornado Watch: A Tornado Watch is issued when thunderstorms with tornadoes are possible. C. Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Thunderstorms with winds over 58mph and hail in excess of an inch are imminent or occurring within a designated area and time limit. D. Tornado Warning: A tornado is on the ground or imminent with in a designated area and time limit. 6) Heat: Intense heat and heat waves impact Southern Wisconsin, periodically, from May through early September. If the risk of intense heat is significant, the National Weather Service (NWS) will issue advisories and/ or watches. A. Heat Advisory: Issued when the Heat Index, a combination of heat and humidity, reaches 100°F or greater during the day. A Heat Advisory will also be issued, when the Heat Index reaches 95°F for 4 consecutive days. B. Excessive Heat Warning: Issued when the Heat Index reaches 105°F during the day or 100°F for four consecutive days. WEATHER AND SEVERE WEATHER GUIDELINES These are the actions to take during one of the twelve identified weather threats defined above. 1) Winter Storm Warning: All games and practices cancelled for duration of warning. Five Diamonds will not re-open until all snow and ice are removed and fields are considered playable. 2) Blizzard Warning: All games and practices cancelled for duration of warning. Five Diamonds will not re-open until all snow and ice are removed and fields are considered playable. Five Diamonds Severe Weather Policy Page 3 3) Winter Weather Advisory: All games and practices cancelled for duration of advisory. Five Diamonds will not re-open until all snow and ice are removed and fields are considered playable. 4) Dense Fog Advisory: All games and practices suspended for duration of advisory. Games and practices can start once the advisory ends or it is determined visibility has improved enough to allow for safe play. A test of this is to walk to fields 7 and 10, farthest from the snack bar. If the snack bar can be seen clearly from fields 7 and 10, visibility has improved enough for safe play. 5) Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory: All games and practices cancelled for duration of advisory. Five Diamonds will not re-open until fields are considered playable. 6) Flash Flood Warning: All games and practices cancelled for duration of warning.