Severe Weather & Storm Management – Closure and Reopening Policy
🎯 Purpose
Protect the safety of members, guests, and staff with clear, objective steps for suspending and resuming operations during storms.
📱 Official Weather Source
App: WeatherBug
Station: Cromwell Valley Elementary School
All distances and indications in this policy are taken from WeatherBug using this station.
📍 Areas Covered
- Main Pool Area: Main pool water and the entire concrete deck surrounding the main pool (unfenced).
- Baby Pool Enclosure: Baby pool water and the concrete deck inside the baby pool fence.
- Grounds: All other outdoor areas of Campus Cabana (lawns, clubhouse, courts, picnic areas, playground, pavilion, etc.).
When this policy says “Pool & Deck,” it means both the Main Pool Area and the Baby Pool Enclosure.
⚡ Triggers and Required Actions
🚧 Pool & Deck Clearance (close both pools and their decks)
Required ActionClear the Pool & Deck immediately if either is true:
- WeatherBug indicates lightning within 5 miles, or
- Thunder is heard on site by staff or a manager.
Members and guests must exit the water and leave the concrete deck areas. They may remain on the Grounds unless a Grounds Clearance (Section B) is also triggered.
🚨 Grounds Clearance (evacuate the entire property)
EvacuateClear the Grounds — everyone must leave the property — when WeatherBug indicates lightning within 3 miles.
- This is an app-based rule; visible lightning or thunder are not required. WeatherBug uses data from the
Earth Networks Total Lightning Network
and the
National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN). - DRD staff ensure an orderly evacuation and then staff also evacuate.
- 🚨 During a Grounds Clearance, all patrons must leave the property.
🛡️ Staff Presence, Return, and Assessment
- Pool & Deck clearance only (no Grounds evacuation):
Staff remain on site to monitor conditions and enforce the closure. Start a 30-minute clock from the last thunder heard or the last WeatherBug-indicated lightning strike. Each new thunder or indicated strike resets the clock. The Pool & Deck remain closed until the clock reaches 30 minutes and WeatherBug shows the nearest indicated lightning strike is more than 5 miles from the station. - Grounds evacuation (lightning within 3 miles):
Staff evacuate and return when WeatherBug shows the nearest indicated lightning strike is more than 3 miles from the station to reassess.
✅ Reopening Procedure
After staff return (if evacuated) and a safety inspection for hazards (debris, power issues, water clarity and chemistry, etc.):
- Grounds Reopen: When on-site conditions are safe and WeatherBug shows the nearest indicated lightning strike is more than 3 miles from the station and the storm is receding.
- Pool & Deck Reopen: When on-site conditions are safe, and the 30-minute clock has fully elapsed if thunder was heard or lightning was indicated.
- Final reopening decisions rest with the DRD pool management team based on on-site safety.
Note: The 30-minute clock does not delay Grounds reopening; it applies only to reopening the Pool & Deck.
