Project Tornado

36 comments

Hi, I'm Rusty Garrett with News 10. Welcome to Project Tornado.

Project Tornado brings life saving information into classrooms across Central Texas. Over the past two decades, I've had the opportunity and pleasure to present this program to literally tens of thousands of children from kindergarten to high school.

From my early days in broadcasting, I realized that being on television nightly gave me a special familiarity that motivated youngsters to pay close attention to my presentation. This allows me to show them the importance of making a weather safety plan and in turn, each child is encouraged to take my Project Tornado safety booklet home and share this information with their families.

Over my many years at News 10, requests for the program have been tremendous in number. It’s success has presented some challenges, however. The program has become so popular that it’s become physically impossible for me to travel to all the classrooms asking for a Project Tornado presentation.

In October of 2007, a great solution materialized! We were offered the opportunity to partner with Region 12 Education Service Center in an exciting new format involving high tech video conferencing. This essentially allows us to expand our instructional program to school districts on the very outskirts of our large viewing area. This technology places live cameras and television monitors in the classrooms and gives us a “live link-up” to even more school children on a one-on-one basis!

Through Region 12’s nationwide network with other school districts and their internet promotion of the program, “Project Tornado” has even been requested by schools as far away as Michigan! Furthermore, plans are already underway to “link-up” with schools in Canada – making our outreach “global” in scope!

The opportunities appear limitless for Project Tornado as new technologies evolve. News 10 will be on the cutting edge of cyber technology as we find new ways to take the life saving message of Project Tornado to school children wherever they may be, one classroom at a time!

Check out my special site at Region 12's Video Conference Center by clicking on the banner below.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: mother of 2 Location: china spring on Feb 24, 2011 at 06:38 PM
Same as Lydia, can I get a copy of the pictures from Duncan 2nd grade china spring elementary that were takrn on 2/24/11??

Posted by: Lydia Location: Fort Hood on Jan 20, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Is there a way to get a copy of the pictures from Duncan Elementary taken 1-20-2011? My son is a student in this class.

Posted by: lesley Location: copperas cove on Jan 20, 2011 at 03:54 AM
I,m parent of a pre-k of Clements/parsons elementary.i would love to have Rusty's project tornado come to our classrooms and talk to the kids about what can happen and how wecan be safe.

Posted by: Dee Location: Waco on Jan 9, 2011 at 11:08 PM
I'm the parent of a 1st grader at Kendrick Elementary. I would love to see Rusty's project Tornado come to our school. I think the kids would really learn a lot from the experience.

Posted by: Debbie Location: Kerens Texas on Oct 6, 2010 at 07:08 PM
We had a lot of fun with Rusty today. Although we won't get to here what Rusty says about us or see our kids on tv....It was great. Keep up the good work Rusty!

Posted by: Billie Location: Killeen on Sep 29, 2010 at 06:30 PM
Is there a way to get copys of the pictures from Clarke Elementry on Fort Hood taken 9-29?

Posted by: Brendan Tankersley on Sep 8, 2010 at 08:19 AM
Hi, I'm Brendan Tankersley my Aunt is Lori folgelmen

Posted by: Kristi on Aug 15, 2010 at 01:57 AM
Mr. Garrett, I am homeschooling my children and would love to be able to share with them Project Tornado.. Is there a way to get a copy of the DVD that you give to the schools?

Posted by: Sharon Location: Fairfield, Texas on Jun 16, 2010 at 05:31 PM
Dear Rusty, Our first grader was lucky enough to participate in your tornado safety program and was on KWTX on May 13, unfortunately when we tried to view the disc that it had been recorded on it didn't record. Is it possible to get a copy of this show or even the picture of the class? It was Fairfield Elementary School, Elizabeth Partain was the teacher. Thanks so much for this.

Posted by: Andrea Chambers Location: Killeen, TX on May 12, 2010 at 06:31 PM
You visited my son's school today... he was so excited when he came home. He gave everyone in the house a one-on-one tornado safety lesson. Thanks for all you do, from my family to yours! :)

Posted by: shawna huff Location: killeen on May 5, 2010 at 10:58 AM
You recently visited my daughter's school, on May 4, 2010, and I would love a copy of the picture you took with her class. A few years ago, she was in a tornado, and has been terrified of storms. Since your visit, she said it's serious, but nothing to get upset about. Maybe if I had the picture I could remind her of that, next time the T.V. goes red.

Posted by: Craig Montgomery Location: Moffett on Apr 23, 2010 at 07:09 PM
I've been watching the storms. when a storm gose up the interstate like that. is it because of the heat from the traffic?

Posted by: Kristin Lamb Location: Belton on Apr 23, 2010 at 05:44 PM
Wow, This program used to come to my school. I loved it, definitely my favorite time of the year, thank you so much for coming Mr. Garrett, I still remember the lessons! Kristin

Posted by: Sharon Campbell Location: Malone ISD on Apr 23, 2010 at 09:46 AM
Thank you so much for the teleconference. It was a fun learning experience for my class. They were especially excited about being mentioned on the weather and the website.

Posted by: Feliciana Alvarez Location: Belton on Mar 10, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Rusty, You guys visited my daughters school today at Miller Heights Elem. She came home and was excited about the visit that I wanted to know If We could receive a picture from you guys. Thank You.

Posted by: Peggy Adcox Location: Waco TX on Mar 5, 2010 at 12:03 AM
Rusty, could you please post the picture of the first graders at Hewitt Elementary. My grandson attends this school and I would like a copy for his school scrapbook. Thank You.

Posted by: Russell Location: Gatesville on Jan 9, 2010 at 12:47 PM
I heard that SKYWARN 2010 is scheduled for feb 6 in waco, do you have any information on this?

Posted by: Mary Location: Bauer on Dec 28, 2009 at 02:43 PM
How many tornadoes has Waco had? What catagory?;

Posted by: Hannah Location: Mountainview Elementary on Oct 14, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Rusty did and outstanding job!! He communicated with our students on their level and got them involved and excited about weather! I'm so thankful they got to have that experience, THANKS RUSTY!!!!

Posted by: woodyrow Location: troy on Oct 4, 2009 at 10:48 AM
rusty you da man !!!

Posted by: chris Location: hubbard on Jun 18, 2009 at 08:25 AM
whats up can you ever come to hubbard school and talk to us about tornadoes

Posted by: Carol Location: Whitney on Jun 10, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Mr.Garrett,we are putting together an Emergency Preparedness Fair for Whitney,Hillsboro,Clifton,and Meridian,July 25th. We would like to know if you could come share Project Tornado and any other information with us; as we all need to know what to do and look for should adverse weather hit. We are in the anything could happen weather stage,and any help would be greatly appreciated. We are expecting about 1500 adults and children.Thank You,Carol

Posted by: Cathy Location: Belton, TX on Apr 6, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Mr. Garrett, I am currently teaching a weather class in our local homeschool co-op. We would love to invite you to come and do your Project Tornado presentation to this group of students. Please let me know if this is possible. Thanks so much, Cathy

Posted by: maksat on Mar 23, 2009 at 06:58 PM
Mr. Garrett, Our kids at Harmony Science Academy enjoyed and had lots of fun learning from your presentation. Thanks for coming.

Posted by: KAREN Location: 76579 on Mar 12, 2009 at 05:37 PM
COOL!!!

Posted by: shelby Location: decatur on Mar 5, 2009 at 02:06 PM
so cool

Posted by: Mr. Godsil Location: Kennedy-Powell Elem. on Mar 5, 2009 at 09:38 AM
Fantastic! Mr. Garrett, First, thank you for enlightening my student on the dangers that severe weather may bring. This was my first telecast and I enjoyed it greatly. After both classes participated in the telecast we had discussion over the severe weather. The main topic was “flash floods”, I could tell some of my students did not realize the danger they had been in -playing near creeks during heavy rains. I assure you my student enjoyed the time spent talking about science.

Posted by: Steven Boman Location: Belton, Texas on Feb 24, 2009 at 09:57 AM
Hi Rusty, Yesterday, 02-23-2009 you visited Tarver Elementary School in Belton and presented the Tornado Project to the 2, 3, and 4th grades. The photo that showed on the 6 o'clock news did not stay on long enough for anyone to ID their child. Can you email me a copy of that photo? My grandaughter was so excited over your visit. Thank you for your work.

Posted by: Krista Location: Belton on Feb 23, 2009 at 07:51 PM
I was wondering if there was a way that I could get a copy of the picture that was taken at Tarver Elementary today (2/23/09) when Rusty visited for Project Tornado. My daughter was so excited about the visit and with "being on TV". I would like to put it in her scrapbook for her if possible. Thanks so much...

Posted by: Teresa Location: West Ward Elementary on Feb 20, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Thank you so much for answering our students' questions on Thursday, even the repetitive ones. We had the books and read them to the students before hand in order to create our questions but felt it best to keep the books until later. First graders can be fidgety. They loved having their own books so please thank the company for donating the books.

Posted by: jarenze Location: 2fart on Feb 3, 2009 at 12:40 PM
i like corndogs. yum do you like corndogs.

Posted by: henry Location: jackson on Feb 3, 2009 at 12:32 PM
corndogs =)

Posted by: Bell County Emergency Management Location: CTC Nurse & Science Bldg on Jan 21, 2009 at 04:49 PM
Severe Weather recognition training for Public on Saturday March 21st at Central Texas College. Free class on how to spot the formation of a tornado – and what is not a tornado Bell County – The National Weather Serivce of Fort Worth, TX will be presenting the annual SKYWARN training on Saturday, March 21st sponsored by the Bell County Office of Emergency Management’s reservist team, to everyone interested in knowing more about the weather. The training program for Skywarn will provide participants with detailed information on specific cloud formations that may lead to the formation of a tornado, types of fronts that can lead to severe storms, and additional weather information. The objective of this training is to provide residents with the information they need to detect a possible severe weather situation and to report it to the proper authorities.

Posted by: Michelle Location: Dublin, Texas on Dec 4, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Rusty! You should give a presentation to the kids here at the Dublin Schools! They'd love to meet y'all!

Posted by: Susan Location: Belton on Sep 22, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Mr. Weatherman (Rusty) - Your tornado project is great but pleeeeez actually wear your goggles over your eyes and have the kids wear goggles too. Eye safety is important - please be a good role model. From one of your faithful watchers & a retired science teacher/coordinator.

Posted by: Heidi Location: Harker Heights on May 12, 2008 at 12:57 PM
My son and I just wanted to thank Brady for coming down to the homeshcool group today in Harker Heights, TX. We had a great time. Brady's presentation was full of great information. The kids really enjoyed him. Thanks again for making it a positive experience and thank you for the books.

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