At a park when a Tornado hits

What would people do? obviously people would try to take cover but if people were stuck on rides there would be nothing they could do. also theres not enough room for people to take cover in bathroom, restaurants etc.....I suppose there would be no ride operations if storm warnings were out, but still where would everyone take cover? *** This post was edited by thrillride_FANatic on 7/11/2001. ***

A couple years ago during the tornado on Mt. Washington right above downtown Pittsburgh, Kennywood had to take caution as well. Some guests were taken below the park office and kept there until the storm passed. Thankfully, the tornado did not reach Kennywood and there were no major damages.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. That was some pretty scary stuff...

I've heard Cedar Point has underground rooms. When a storm hits, then people go there.

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Beware of the Dragons! - Dueling Dragons
http://www.rollercoasterfreaks.com/

probably everyone would be running like hell into some type of cover and you would get those occasional wackos who would run to their cars to leave. but if i was in the park i would be walking through the queue line of MF if i was at CP. everyone is running i would hop right in line. when the storm passed front row baby.

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Webmaster - G-Screams
http://gscreams.cjb.net

i was at cedar point last year and they stopped almost everything because of water spouts on the lake. It is scary and unpredictable weather from the lake. I live in Erie,Pa...like 8 blocks from the lake and it gets pretty nasty looking sometimes

beastnum1, that's exaylt my response when asked this question over at GTTP a while ago! :) Everyone else runs for cover or the parking lot while I run to MF's queue.

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Your best? Losers are always whining about doing their best...winners go home and ******* the prom queen.

In 99' while i was at SFoT, there wasn't a tornado, but high winds, and heavy rain. luckily, i was watching an indoor show while this happened, and i was inside the whole time. then when they let us out (they held us and 1:15 minutes because of the wind) everyone was gone at the park. Needless to say, i got a solo ride on the Texas Giant....oh yeah.....

Cedar Point does not have underground rooms.

When a tornado/waterspout threatens CP, everything is closed and rides are permitted to be abandoned (whole crew leaves). Guests and employees alike may take shelter in restrooms, gift shops, the arcades, etc. The IMAX theater may be opened if the storm is severe enough or the crowds large enough to warrant the extra cover. If there are still operators at the rides (most often), then guests are permitted to come up the ride exit to shelter on the unload platform, and of course if you are already in line you may stay in line and/or on the platform unless the crew is instructed to leave.

CP '96, '97, '98.
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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html

ok thanx for the info. just wondered what would happen.

I don't know what everyone *would* do... barring a smallish, very sturdily built building (an IMAX theater would be a death trap) what they *should* do, if they have enough time, is take shelter in their automobiles. It might be quite chaotic, if 80% of a park's patrons headed for the lot at the same time, but cars provide surprisingly reliable protection in all but the strongest tornadoes. With little warning, I would choose those sturdily built cinder-block/brick restrooms that most parks seem to have.

There are no underground shelters. In '98 there was a tornado 3 miles away from CP and they didn't do anything. Everyone took shelter in the arcade. All power was out for ten minutes. The ferry couldn't come and pick up hotel guests either. SO we stayed at the restaraunt outside the marina entrance until twelve because it took forever because of buses

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HurricaneGeauga- Just in case

Coaster Lobotomy,
See tornado.
See patrons entering their cars.
See tornado moving across parking lot.
See car get tossed.
See patron unable to ride again.

Get what I's saying?

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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!

http://www.woodencoaster.com

yea cars are the worst place to be when a tornado comes.

thrillride_FANatic said:
"yea cars are the worst place to be when a tornado comes."

I can assure you that they are not the worst place to be. There is scientific evidence that, with the exception of a well-contructed building or frame house, an automobile is often the best shelter available. Remember, cars are designed to protect their occupants during collisions. In addition, they are surprisingly resistant to roll-overs in strong winds. Cars fair quite well in tornadic winds as strong as F2 (and the vast majority of tornadoes are F2 or weaker). This is not conjecture; it has been confirmed in wind tunnel studies and with observations of tornado damage sites.

Most of the amusement park buildings that come to mind are very open and are built "slab-style" (i.e. without foundations). Administrative buildings might be better. Bathrooms tend to be sturdily constructed and are compact, with fewer windows and doorways than most amusement park buildings.

Wow if i was in my mom's car when a tornado happened and it got thrown around, 8 airbags would pop out. So I think it would be pretty safe, compared to a ton of other cars.

LOL Nitro! Gotta love that image. Frankly, though, I'm not worried about the car rolling over so much as getting picked up and dropped someplace I really don't want to be, or having something else dropped on top of it. I'll stick with a cinderblock bathroom, thanks much.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html

The safety of a cinder block bathroom would depend on exactly how it was constructed. A few foundation ties and a few prices of rebar would make a tremendous difference. Cars are good protection during a small tornado though you may want to slouch down and cover your head to protect against flying objects punching out the windows. Most park buildings are good protection against a thunderstorm (and you are more likely to be killed by lightning than a tornado), but probably wouldn't do much against a tornado. If you see a funnel heading towards you, a ditch or other low spot may be your best bet. If it's an F5, sorry about that.

Wouldn't you be safe on a coaster such as a inverted where you are strapped in by OTSRs.The tornado isn't going to suck the track up. *** This post was edited by BGTKing on 7/13/2001. ***

Good point, BGTKing, but I'd hate to be out there in the open with the debris flying around! And even if there isn't large chunks of debris, there will be a lot of sand/dirt/gravel and sandpapering my face/arms/legs isn't something I like to do without warning. Plus, while the track itself wouldn't most likely move, I wouldn't be so sure that the train that you're strapped into would stay on that track.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html

Actually I heard on the Discovery channel that an acutuall tornado won't kill you but the debris in side is what will kill you.