Tornado Safety

Year-round prep, during a watch or warning, and when a tornado is bearing down.

Know the Difference

• Watch = conditions are right (be alert, be ready)
• Warning = a tornado is happening or imminent (take shelter NOW)

Pick Your Shelter Spot

• Best: basement or storm cellar
• No basement: small interior room on lowest floor — bathroom, closet, hallway
• As many walls between you and the outside as possible
• Mobile home? Identify a sturdy nearby building or storm shelter — never shelter in the trailer

Year-Round Prep

• NOAA weather radio with battery backup and SAME alert programming
• Multiple alert sources: phone (Wireless Emergency Alerts on), weather app, local TV
• Helmets (bike or sport) for every household member — head injuries are the top killer
• Closed-toe shoes and a small bag with shoes/keys/wallet/phone near the shelter spot
• Heavy blankets, sleeping bags, or mattress to pull over yourselves
• First-aid kit and flashlights inside the shelter location
• Whistle in the shelter — to signal rescuers if trapped
• Bike helmets near beds for kids — middle-of-the-night warnings happen

During a Watch

• Bring pets indoors, charge phones, watch the sky and the radio
• Move shelter bag, shoes, and helmets to your shelter spot
• Cancel non-essential errands; do not start outdoor projects

During a Warning

• Go to your shelter spot immediately — do not stop to look outside
• Get under sturdy furniture or cover with mattress/blankets
• Wear helmets, hold cushions over heads of those without helmets
• Stay away from windows — flying glass is the second-biggest injury cause
• Stay in shelter until the warning is officially canceled, not just when it sounds quiet

If Caught Outside

• In a vehicle: drive to a sturdy building if you can. Do not try to outrun a tornado in heavy traffic
• No building? Lie flat in a low ditch, cover head, watch for flooding
• Never shelter under a highway overpass — wind funnels and flying debris are worse

After

• Check yourself and others for injuries before moving
• Wear sturdy shoes — broken glass and nails are everywhere
• Do not enter damaged buildings until inspected
• Photograph damage before cleanup for insurance