For a Change: Smart Work by Politicians

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When a tornado warning is issued, many businesses force their patrons to leave and lock the door for fear of liability if someone is hurt inside.

The Oklahoma legislature has passed, and Gov. Mary Fallon has signed, a new law absolving people -- in a house or business -- for liability for last-minute sheltering. Details here.

Comments

  1. seinmanMay 8, 2012 at 6:28 AM

    This is a very good thing, but the businesses need to have good emergency plans to make this really help. I've worked for several retail companies, and only about half of them even had a plan for what to do during a tornado warning. One of the places I worked had a basement stockroom, and there was even an empty room down there that could hold about 20 people (that was plenty large enough, this was a retail pharmacy). But we were told not to take customers down there during a tornado warning. I guess being upstairs near all the windows and loose merchandise was a better idea? It boggles my mind.

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  2. Mike SmithMay 8, 2012 at 8:06 AM

    You are correct, far too many businesses do not have tornado plans. At AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions, we work with businesses to improve their preparedness.

    That said, the Oklahoma law is a good thing because if businesses fear liability by being "good samaritans" then they will never put a plan in place.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JohnMay 10, 2012 at 10:45 PM

    I'd like to explore the antithesis to this problem: schools not releasing their students to parents when warnings are issued. As a meteorologist, if knew there were a violent long track tornado coming towards the school, and I went to my child's school to pick them up and take them to the shelter of my choice, I wouldn't be allowed to. I've got a problem with that! Let me sign something to release them of liability, but there is NO way a school, or business for that matter, should be allowed to keep someone against their will.

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