Tornado Warning just another day at the office for PARTA bus drivers

A tornado watch that quickly turned into a tornado warning caused people all across campus to find a safe and secure place to go Wednesday night.

Faculty members, students and other Kent residents were driving when the tornado watch was issued around 5 PM. Many people were passengers on the PARTA buses during the storm.

While some students were unaware of the tornado watch,  PARTA drivers were notified of it right away. Drivers have been taught what to do when there are severe weather conditions such as this.

Frank Hairston, PARTA‘s director of marketing and public service, said drivers are trained to proceed to the nearest fire station or safe building structure if there is a tornado warning.

“It was just a regular day at the office for us,” Hairston said. “When the weather is as bad as it was last Wednesday, we are in constant communication with our drivers through our dispatcher.”

Hairston said drivers are told to be safe and cautious regardless of the circumstances.

According to PARTA’s security and emergency preparedness plan, drivers must drive out of the tornado’s path if the projected path is known. The plan also says that drivers must move all passengers to a safe area on the lowest possible floor.

“Nothing is more important than making sure our passengers are safe at all times,” Hairston said.

PARTA has a sincere concern for the welfare and safety of its employees, contractors, public safety partners, as well as the public it serves, said former General Manager John H. Drew Jr.

During his tenure, Drew came up with a security plan that PARTA employees still follow to this day.