Crystal Lake Kids To School Basement Because of Harvard Tornado

I usually wait until after 3:30 to go pick up my son. That way I can find a parking space.

Not so today.

Although I arrived about 3:38, there wasn’t a space to be found.

After driving around the block about five times without finding anyone leaving and no kid in sight, I asked a parent standing by her car what was up.

She told me there was a tornado warning and the children had been taken downstairs, that I could get my son, if I could find him, and sign him out.

I parked the car a block away—in a legal space, yet—and went inside.

I found the principal and she said that there had been a warning from what used to be called the Weather Bureau and that they had sent out a tornado warning.

District 47’s central office confirmed to South School administrators that the children should not be sent home.

A parent told me that there had been a tornado in Harvard.

Perhaps to a national agency, if a tornado is 20 miles away, but in the same county, that qualifies for a tornado warning.

But, there certainly was no warning siren in Crystal Lake. The crossing guard, who had been there since three, verified that.

Anyway, the principal told me that she was going to dismiss everyone at 4.

I found my son in a basement 5th grade class room and signed him out.

We walked out the front door about two after the four and beat the rush.

Got home at 4:10 and looked at the Tribune web site weather map. I have captured what McHenry County looked like about 3:55.

Doesn’t look like there was a reason to delay dismissal to me.

How about you?

Oh, yes.

Here’s the email that arrived at 4:43-

Alert Name: Tornado Warning

Alert Type: High Importance

Complete Message: We were notified at 3:30 pm that the area is under a tornado warning until 4:00 pm on 1/7/2008. Students are being held at school until 4:00 pm and buses are being instructed to return to school. Once the warning is lifted students will be transported home or released from school.

School Name: Crystal Lake Community School District 47

Sent By: RONALD MILLER


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