Tornado Season Preparation: What Your Security Team Needs to Know

Memphis sits in one of the most tornado-active corridors in the country. Shelby County averages multiple tornado warnings per year, and every few years we get a significant event that reminds everyone just how fast conditions can change. I've been doing field operations in this region for years, and the question I keep asking myself is: when a tornado warning drops at 11 p.m. on a Thursday, does your security team know exactly what to do?

Most of the time, the honest answer is no. Not really.

The Gap Between Having a Plan and Having a Practiced Plan

Most commercial properties have some form of severe weather protocol on paper. It's in the employee handbook, it's posted in the break room. But security officers working night shifts are often the only people on-site when a warning hits, and if they've never walked through the protocol physically, paper doesn't do much for them at 2 a.m.

Real preparedness means knowing which shelter areas in your facility are structurally sound, which areas to avoid (large roof-span spaces like warehouses, loading docks, and atriums are particularly dangerous), and how to account for everyone who might be on the property, including late-working staff, after-hours deliveries, and vendors.

What a Security Officer's Role Actually Looks Like During a Warning

Let's be specific. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Shelby County, here's what a well-prepared security officer should be doing:

First, they should already know the difference between a watch and a warning before they ever set foot on your property. A watch means conditions are favorable for tornado development. A warning means one has been spotted or indicated by radar. The response actions are different. Too many officers, undertrained on weather protocol, treat them the same way.

Second, they need to know the facility's designated shelter areas and the fastest route to get there from every part of the property. This sounds obvious. On a large campus, like a distribution center in Frayser or a medical complex near the Medical District, the path from the loading dock to the interior shelter can be several hundred feet and full of obstacles. Walk it before you need to run it.

Third, they need a communication protocol. Who do they call? In what order? What information do they communicate? A panicked radio call with no structure doesn't help anyone. A clear "I have X personnel in Shelter B, no injuries, standing by" does.

Shelter Assessment Is Part of Site Orientation

When I'm orienting a new officer to a site, severe weather response is always part of the first week. We walk the shelter areas. We note any hazards, stored materials that could become projectiles, roof conditions, proximity to glass. For our clients in warehouse districts near Lamar Ave, this is especially important because large open-span buildings are among the most dangerous places to be during a tornado. Officers need to know to move people to interior rooms, not just "inside the building."

Communication Systems Need Backup Plans

Cell service during a severe weather event in Memphis is unreliable. Towers get congested immediately as people start calling family. Your security team should have a primary communication method and a backup. Two-way radios are standard for a reason. If your officers are relying solely on their personal cell phones to communicate during an emergency, that's a gap.

Also worth noting: tornado sirens in Shelby County are tested on Wednesdays at noon. If your officers don't know that, an unexpected Wednesday siren could trigger unnecessary alarm or, more dangerously, teach them to ignore the sound.

After the Warning: Don't Rush the All-Clear

One of the most common mistakes I see is officers getting antsy to return to normal operations before the all-clear from the National Weather Service. A tornado warning doesn't end when the sky looks calm. The storm may have moved east but conditions can remain unstable. The official all-clear, not visual assessment, should drive the decision to resume normal operations.

Get Your Team Ready Before Spring

Tornado season in the Mid-South typically ramps up in March and April, though we've seen significant events in every month. If your security team hasn't done a weather-protocol walkthrough this year, January is the right time to do it, not April when sirens are already going off. Our team offers site assessments for new and existing clients across Memphis and surrounding communities. Check out our Memphis coverage area or call us at (202) 222-2225 to schedule a consultation. You can also contact us online.