Severe Weather
** Ankeny Little League Participants: If an evacuation order has been given and announced over the complex alert system, ADHERE to this evacuation order and exit the complex immediately. Any delay in the evacuation order will slow the traffic flow out of the Complex.
Evacuation of the Ankeny Little League Baseball Complex, Softball Complex and Hawkeye Park due to inclement weather may be initiated by either the city of Ankeny or Ankeny Little League.
New in 2015, the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex will utilize a complex wide severe weather alert system. When threatening weather enters western and central Iowa, the Weather Sentry system maintained by the City of Ankeny, shall be turned on and monitored by the city staff. When city officials determine the threat of severe weather is high enough to warrant the evacuation of the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex, Softball Complex and Hawkeye Park they will activate the weather alert system. Finally, they will call the ODs on duty or physically go to the Quad Center. Here are the notifications that will be activated on the weather alert system.
WEATHER ALERT SYSTEM NOTIFICATIONS
Lightning – One tone from the siren
“Attention, lightning has been detected within the area, games are being temporarily suspended. Seek shelter inside of your motor vehicles. Further announcements will follow as the situation changes.”
Tornado Watch - One tone from the siren
“Attention, a tornado watch has been issued for our area. Repeat, a tornado watch has been issued for our area. The potential exists for tornado development. Further announcements will follow as the situation changes.”
Tornado Warning - One tone from the siren
“Attention, a tornado warning has been issued for our area. Immediately evacuate the area and seek shelter. Repeat, a tornado warning has been issued for our area, immediately evacuate the area and seek shelter.”
High Winds - One tone from the siren
“Attention, a high wind warning has been issued for our area. I repeat, a high wind warning has been issued for our area. Winds exceeding 60 MPH are imminent. Seek shelter inside of your motor vehicles. Further announcements will follow as the situation changes.”
Severe Weather - One tone from the siren
“Attention, a severe weather warning has been issued for our area. Immediately evacuate the area and seek shelter. Repeat, a severe weather warning has been issued for our area, immediately evacuate the area and seek shelter.”
All Clear - Two tones from the siren
“Attention, this is an all-clear message. You may resume your scheduled activities. Repeat, resume scheduled activities.”
Lost Child - One tone from the siren
“Attention, we have received a report of a lost child at the complex. Repeat, we have a received a report of a lost child at the complex. Please stand by for descriptive information…”
Employee will ask for a detailed description of the child, including name, age, gender, race, height, weight, hair and eye color, and a description of the child’s clothing and shoes.
If found, the child should be returned to the closest operating concession stand or the complex maintenance building.
If the child is not located within 15 minutes the police are called.
LIGHTNING
Lightning is the most common severe weather threat to baseball complex occupants. When the alert system is activated for lightning within 12 miles of the complex, additional procedures must be followed:
· Playing fields are to be cleared of participants for 30 minutes
· Participants should be directed to go to their vehicles
During this seek shelter lightning threat, baseball complex occupants must avoid close proximity to backstops, fences, dugouts, trees and open areas. It is imperative that all persons seek shelter in their vehicles. At the Prairie Ridge Sports Baseball Complex, the ONLY appropriate shelter for lightning is:
· An automobile with a solid metal roof. Once inside the automobile, roll up windows and move to the center of the interior. Soft-tops and convertibles should be avoided as they do not provide adequate protection.
· Board Members and Umpires may use the Quad Center.
When the seek shelter order has been given, the following is required of the complex occupants:
· Officers of the Day - Direct all complex occupants toward appropriate shelter. Ensure all players/children are placed with a parent or adult guardian. Monitor the weather in coordination with the complex staff. Further direct the occupants as needed to either return to the fields or evacuate the baseball complex.
· Managers/Coaches/Team Parents - Ensure that all players are placed in the custody of a parent or adult guardian before leaving your team. If a parent or adult guardian cannot be located in a timely manner, take the player(s) with you and seek appropriate shelter. Contact the player’s parent or guardian as quickly as possible to notify them of the situation and the status of their player.
Any lightning shelter orders given within an hour of safe play will also indicate the cancellation or postponement of the day’s events.
During practice or other events when no league officials are present, managers and coaches shall order their players to seek shelter whenever lightning is observed or thunder is heard. All persons shall maintain shelter for a minimum of 30 minutes after the last indication of lightning.
ALL CLEAR
After the alert system is activated for all clear, additional procedures must be followed:
· ODs notify participants that the all-clear notification has been issued
· Participants may return to their respective playing fields
· ODs and complex staff continue to monitor weather conditions
· Games may be cancelled or postponed with communication with President
TORNADO WATCH OR WARNING
During a tornado watch, the Weather Sentry system will be turned on and the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex staff and ODs should monitor weather conditions moving into the area. During a tornado watch, the playing fields shall remain open.
After the alert system is activated for a tornado warning and evacuation order, additional procedures must be followed:
· Officers of the Day along with League officials – To supplement the complex alert system evacuation order, make a public address announcement to notify all participants that an evacuation has been ordered and to adhere to this order and immediately leave the complex quickly and safely. Little League does not have the authority and CANNOT stop traffic on 18th Street to allow complex vehicles to exit. Ensure all players/children are placed with a parent or adult guardian for evacuation.
· Managers/Coaches/Team Parents – Adhere to the evacuation order and immediately leave the complex quickly and safely. Ensure that all players are placed in the custody of a parent or adult guardian before leaving your team. If a parent or adult guardian cannot be located in a timely manner, take the player(s) with you and evacuate the complex. Contact the player’s parent or guardian as quickly as possible to notify them of the situation and the status of their player.
· Drivers - Proceed in a safe and orderly manner out of the parking lot. Follow traffic flow signs and use both lanes for exiting.
· DO NOT remain on the fields, in the dugouts, on the sidewalks or around the concession stand and Quad Center.
· In addition, the Civil Defense sirens will sound
· “Willing” patrons and staff may evacuate to the Prairie Ridge Middle School gymnasium (entering through the north side of the building and direct everyone to interior hallways).
· Games will be cancelled and rescheduled at a later time.
COLD WEATHER GUIDELINES
Ankeny Little League will implement the following Cold Weather Guidelines
· ODs will make game decision with League President and VPs 1 hour before game start time based on the projected weather forecast. The following temperatures are based on the lower of either ambient or wind chill index.
· 40 - 45 degrees: Ankeny Little League would enforce games be shortened to the official game minimum inning or time limit, whichever occurs first
· 39 degrees or lower: Ankeny Little League will cancel all games and reschedule
HOT WEATHER GUIDELINES
Ankeny Little League will implement the following Hot Weather Guidelines
· ODs will make game decision with League President and VPs 1 hour before game start time based on the projected weather forecast. The following temperatures are based on the higher of either ambient or heat index.
· (Condition Yellow) 95 – 99 degrees: Ankeny Little League may enforce games be shortened to the official game minimum inning or time limit, whichever occurs first
· (Condition Black) 100+ degrees: Ankeny Little League will cancel all games and reschedule
Ankeny Little League Board
Updated 3/26/2024