Tornadoes

A tornado is the world’s most violent storm and can devastate a community in seconds. A tornado is a funnel-shaped cloud that drops from a thunderstorm to the ground with winds up to 300 miles per hour. If you see a cloud of flying debris, there might be a tornado even if a funnel isn’t visible. When there's a tornado risk, the National Weather Service issues alerts.

Tornado Watch: severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible

Tornado Warning: a tornado is happening or about to happen. Seek shelter immediately

Prepare in Advance

Assembling an emergency preparedness kit.
Creating a household evacuation plan that includes your pets.
Staying informed about your community’s risk and response plans.
Ensuring each family member knows how to get back in touch if you are separated during an emergency.

Protect your family:

Assembling an emergency preparedness kit.
Creating a household evacuation plan that includes your pets.
Staying informed about your community’s risk and response plans.
Ensuring each family member knows how to get back in touch if you are separated during an emergency.

Protect your pets & animals:

If it’s not safe for you to stay in your home during an emergency, it’s not safe for them either!
Include supplies for your pet in your emergency kit, or assemble an emergency kit for your pet.

Protect your home:

Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a storm.
Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged limbs, then strategically remove branches so that wind can blow through. Strong winds frequently break weak limbs and hurl them at great speed, causing damage or injury when they hit.
Remove any debris or loose items in your yard. Branches and firewood may become missiles in strong winds.
Consider installing permanent shutters to cover windows. Shutters can be closed quickly and provide the safest protection for windows.
Strengthen garage doors. Garage doors are often damaged or destroyed by flying debris, allowing strong winds to enter. As winds apply pressure to the walls, the roof can be lifted off, and the rest of the house can easily follow.

Right Before A Tornado

Don’t wait until you see the tornado to act! If you do nothing else:

Listen to local area radio, NOAA radio or TV stations for the latest information and updates.
Move to a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.

Then, if you can, do this:

Watch for tornado danger signs: dark, often greenish clouds – a phenomenon caused by hail; wall cloud – an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm; cloud of debris.
Move or secure any of the items on your list of items to bring inside or anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
Bring your companion animals indoors and maintain direct control of them.

Remember: no area of a mobile home is safe during a tornado. If you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, go there immediately, using your seat belt if driving.

During a tornado

Seek shelter immediately!

If you’re in a building, go to an interior room on the lowest level, like a closet or bathroom.
Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
In a high-rise building, pick a hallway in the center of the building. You may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor.
In a mobile home, choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your safe place. No mobile home, however it is configured, is safe in a tornado.

If outside, protect yourself

Stay away from bridge/highway overpasses.
If in a car, try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.
Lie in an area lower than the level of the roadway.
Cover your head with your arms. Most injuries come from flying debris.
If strong winds and flying debris occurs while driving, pull over and park, keeping your seat belt on and engine running. Put your head down below the windows, covering your head with your hands and a blanket.

After a tornado

Please stay off streets until local authorities announce an “All Clear.”
Check in with family and friends by texting or using social media.
If you’re trapped, don’t move. Make noise so that rescuers can find you.
Watch out for debris and downed power lines.
Stay out of damaged buildings and homes until local authorities say it’s safe.
Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes.
Do what you can to prevent more damage. For example, cover your damaged roof with a tarp.
Pay attention to how you and your loved ones are experiencing and handling stress. Promote emotional recovery by following these tips.
Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.
Help people who require additional assistance—infants, older adults, those without transportation, large families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.