It seems like as good a time as any to recount the tale of my first Sunday as a supervisor at my beloved large metropolitan library. Just to set the scene, I should tell you that on Saturdays and Sundays, we supervisors fly solo, whereas during the week there are usually at least three (and sometimes as many as six) of us in the building during the day, although only one in the evening.

Anyway, Sundays are a short day for us and so I went into last weekend thinking I would have a nice easy day of it and be able to enjoy a full-day off later in the week (that would be today). How naive of me.

Around 1:30 PM, someone in our Telereference department alerted me to a Tornado Watch that had just been issued from the National Weather Service (NWS). As these watches happen with some regularity, I simply asked the staffer to keep me posted and I went on not thinking much of it.

At approximately 3:20 PM, first floor staff informed me that the aforementioned staffer was desperately trying to find me. In that same moment, I heard the sirens blare. Sure enough, a Tornado Warning had been issued for the immediate area. I found this exceptionally ironic as I had recently discussed the topic of tornado procedures with another supervisor, only to learn that nothing had been set in stone.

Fortunately, I kept a clear head and had a great staff to support me. Although there was no step by step procedure, there had been some established protocols. I was able to make a scripted announcement to the effect of "The NWS has issued a Tornado Warning. Please proceed to the basement at this time." My security staff had never experienced a Tornado Warning before, but they did a great job clearing the top floors and getting everyone safely into our basement (or out the door, if that was their preference). All services were suspended, so I stayed near the door, weather alert radio in hand, informing those who happened through the front door that they had two options: take safe harbor in our basement or head back out the door at their own risk.

I took a quick look outside and felt the alarmingly still, yet swelteringly warm heat that seemed to be the perfect harbinger of a funnel cloud (although I have no such experience from which to draw). Patrons in the basement (I would estimate there were at least 70 who stayed) were getting reports on their cell phones of touchdowns in other parts of the county and in southern Indiana.

The first warning was scheduled to end at 3:45 PM. At precisely 3:45, the warning reset to 4:15 PM. After announcing this to the crowd downstairs, some folks decided to take their chances, but many remained in our basement. It was getting more than a little hot and odiferous in our staff lounge, but most people weren't going anywhere.

I stayed up on the eerily quiet first floor, redirecting patrons stumbling unknowingly through the door, and listening intently to the weather radio. At 4:15, nothing happened. There was no further messages from the radio, so we couldn't determine whether the warning was extended or allowed to expire.

A few minutes later, we saw on weather.com that the alert had been allowed to expire. Crisis averted. I had staff return to their posts first and then, with the help of security staff, we let everyone else back upstairs. I was quite relieved that the situation was over before closing time. Or so I thought...

I couldn't get off that easily, now could I? 4:50 PM rolls around. We close in ten minutes. Most of the closing procedures have been started, if not already completed. And then I hear the siren AGAIN. Most of the staff and patrons knew where to go this time and there were half as many people in the building, but now I had a new issue: closing time. Staff is only paid till 5 PM and the building closes down precisely at 5, but with thirty plus people still in the building, we needed to make some accommodations.

I had an idea how to proceed, but decided it was time to contact the assistant director (the library manager being out of town, although I left him messages just in case). The purpose of this was two-fold: to let her know we had the situation well under control and to make sure that I could keep at least one other staff person on the clock for the duration of the situation. She seemed pleased to hear from me and quite confident in my handling of the situation.

Once 5 PM hit, we locked the doors and I invited staff to either stay or go (other than my first volunteer who was in it for the long haul). To their credit, many staff members stuck around with no assurance of reimbursement for their time. Patrons were told that they could hang tight as long as the warning was still in effect. At around 5:20, a Flash Flood Warning was issued, which only confused our ability to follow the Tornado Warning status. Fortunately, at 5:35, the alert finally lifted and with the help of my great staff, we were able to clear the building. By that point, we had reports of at least three different touchdowns, including one very close to one of the branches.

Many people lost power for days as a result of the storms, including two of my supervisors. For my part, I still had to drive home through three counties under Tornado Warnings, so I wasn't too anxious to get on the road. I made it though, to the great relief of my wife and myself. We ended up with some serious ligntning that evening, which we watched from the relative safety of our sun room.

Being the supervisor during this crisis was an unbelievable experience and I have to believe it will always be great interview fodder. The key, of course, is to be decisive and have great people around you to help carry out those decisions. Sure, a strong emergency plan is a good thing to have, but it is no substitute for making good choices in the moment and letting good people do the rest.