What Can I Do To Prepare for a Tornado?

Advance planning and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado. Have a plan for getting your family back together in the event that family members are separated. For example, a tornado could strike during the day when parents are at work or home and children are at school.

In addition to a plan, it's important to know the signs of a tornado and do some advance planning:

• Learn these tornado danger signs:
  • Dark, often greenish sky — a phenomenon caused by hail indicating a tornado may develop
  • Wall cloud, an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm
  • Large hail. Tornadoes are spawned from powerful thunderstorms. And the most powerful thunderstorms produce large hail.
  • An approaching cloud of trash can mark the location of a tornado.
  • Before a tornado hits, the air may become very still.
  • Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear skies behind a tornado.
  • Cloud of debris, funnel cloud, roaring noise
• Get training — take a first aid class from your local Red Cross chapter.
• Use a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone-alert feature, or a portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated emergency information of watches and warnings issued in your area.
• If planning a trip or extended period of time outdoors, listen to the latest forecasts and take necessary action if threatening weather is possible.

What To Do During a Tornado Watch

• Listen continuously to a NOAA Weather Radio or a battery-powered radio (or television) for updated emergency information.
• Everyone in a WATCH area should be ready to respond and act quickly.
• Be alert to changing weather conditions.

What To Do During a Tornado Warning

• Listen continuously to a NOAA Weather Radio or a battery-powered radio (or television) for updated emergency information.
• If you are inside, go to your safe place to protect yourself from glass and other flying debris.
• Stay away from windows.
• If you're outside in a car or in a mobile home, go immediately to the basement of a nearby sturdy building.
• If there is no building nearby, lie flat in a low spot. Use your arms and hands to protect your head
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs, such a auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways or shopping malls.

What To Do During a Tornado

At Home:

• Go to the basement, or lowest level of the building.
• If there is no basement, go to a smaller inner room without windows.
• Go to the corner of room.
• Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a heavy table and hold on to it.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck
• If you are in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.

At Work/School:

• Go to the basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest level.
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias or large hallways.
• Get under a piece of study furniture such as a heavy table and hold on to it.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.

When You Are Outside:

• If possible, get inside a building.
• If there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or crouch near a strong building.
• Be aware of the potential for flooding.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.

If You Are in a Car:

• NEVER drive in a tornado. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and lift up a car or truck and toss it through the air.
• Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building.
• If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle.

What To Do After a Tornado

• Continue listening to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
• Protect yourself from further danger by putting on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves.
• Help neighbors who may require special assistance.
• Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them to the power company, police or fire department.
• Stay out of damaged buildings.
• Use the telephone for emergency calls only.