Rogers Woman Concerned With Weather Policy At Aquatic Center

ROGERS -- Wednesday's fast moving storm caught employees off guard at the Rogers Aquatic Center, leading one grandparent to question the evacuation policy at the center.

"We were watching the black clouds boil up northwest of the city, and I was concerned a thunderstorm was headed this way. I asked one of the lifeguards at the pool about whether pool management was going to get people out of the water before the storm hit," said Maureen Cover-Bryan of Rogers who was at the pool with her grandchildren.

The lifeguard didn't seem too concerned, Cover-Bryan said Thursday.

"She asked if I had heard any thunder, and I said no, and the lifeguard just shrugged her shoulders. She explained the pool policy is to empty the pool only when there is lightning," Cover-Bryan said.

If thunder could be heard or lightning seen, Cover-Bryan said she believes it's already too late to get people out of the pool. The decision to close the pool should be made before the storm hits, not after.

"Our policy is, if we hear a clap of thunder or see lightning, we immediately get everybody out of the pool," said Barney Hayes, Parks Department director. "The storm hit so quickly Wednesday no one was expecting the high wind that proceeded the front. One minute it was still, and the next minute the wind came out of nowhere."

"We did the best we could to get the people out of the pool as quickly as possible and into the bathrooms for protection from the high wind. Could we have done a better job? Probably, but we did the best we could under the circumstances," Hayes said.

"We were watching the approaching storm on weather apps on our cellphones," said Suzy Turek, pool manager. "We were watching for any lightning strikes but didn't see any."

Turek said the app on her phone specifically looks for lightning and can measure how far away lightning is from the pool area.

The National Weather Service issued a thunderstorm watch for the area at 1 p.m. followed by warnings at 1:04, 1:53 and 2 p.m. Additional warnings were issued for the northeastern section of the county.

"We don't have a policy regarding weather warnings or watches," Turek said. "We carefully monitor the storm and make decisions based on what the maps and other weather apps tell us about an approaching storm."

"We were aware there might be wind on the leading edge of the storm but had no idea it would hit as fast and violently as is did. We cleared the people from the pool area as quick as possible. We put people in the restrooms and on the east side of the building, out of the wind. Thankfully no one was injured," Turek said.

The situation was similar at the Springdale Aquatic Center, said Andrew Proffitt, director. There wasn't time to get swimmers out of the pool before the wind was full force.

"It went from nothing to, 'Oh, here it is,'" Proffitt said.

Springdale center employees also use lightning as a guide as to when to get swimmers out of the pool, Proffitt said.

The storm lasted about 40 minutes. When it passed the sun returned and the Rogers pool opened, Turek said. The Springdale center closed for the day, although they usually open 30 minutes after lightning is no longer in the area, Proffitt said.

Cover-Bryan said she didn't wait for pool management to make a decision on whether to clear the pool.

"I was already getting the grandchildren out of the pool and moving them into the women's bathroom. I didn't need anyone to make a decision for me. I just used my common sense," Cover-Bryan said.