In the event of a tornado you have only a short amount of time to make life-or-death decisions. Planning in advance and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado.

Be Prepared

Conduct tornado drills each season. Designate an area in the home to serve as a shelter, and practice with the whole family the drill of going to that area in response to a tornado threat.

Discuss with the family members the differences between a "tornado watch" and a "tornado warning".

Be sure to have all necessary supplies on hand for a disaster. Refer to the Disaster Supplies Kit page for further information.

Develop an Emergency Communication Plan

In the event that family members are separated from one another during a tornado, especially applicable during the day when adults are at work and children are in school, have a communication plan developed to aide in getting everyone back together. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as your family contact. It is often easier to call long distance after a disaster. Make sure everyone in your family knows the name, address, and telephone number of the contact person.

Tornado Watches and Warnings

A Tornado Watch is issued by the National Weather Service when tornados are possible in your area and the conditions in the region specified are favorable for the development of tornados. Remain alert for approaching storms. This is the time to remind family members where the safest places within your home are located, and listen to the radio or television for further developments and reports.

A Tornado Warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by the weather radar. This is the time to take immediate action.

Mobile Homes

Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to tornados and severe storms. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. When a tornado warning is issued, take shelter in a building with a strong foundation. If shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the unit.

Tornado Danger Signs

• An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.

• Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.

• Tornados generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

During:

If at home:

• Go at once to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the building.

• If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.

• Get away from the windows.

• Go to the center of the room. Stay away from the corners because they tend to attract debris.

• Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it.

• Use arms to protect head and neck.

• If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.

If at work or school:

• If possible, get inside a building.

• If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

• Use arms to protect head and neck.

If in a car:

• Never try to out drive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornados can change direction quickly and can 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. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

After

Help injured or trapped persons. 

Give first aid when appropriate. Don't try to move the seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.

• Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergency information.

• Stay out of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

• Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the building if you smell gas or chemical fumes.

• Take pictures of the damage - both to the house and its contents - for insurance purposes.

Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance, such as infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Inspecting Utilities in a Damaged Home

Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advise.

Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

Mitigation

Mitigation includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or lessen the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. Investing in preventive mitigation steps now, such as checking local building codes and ordinances about wind-resistant designs and strengthening un-reinforced masonry, will help reduce the impact of tornados in the future. For more information on mitigation, contact you local emergency management office.

Fujita - Pearson Tornado Scale

F-0: 40-72 mph, chimney damage, tree branches broken

F-1: 73-112 mph, mobile homes pushed off foundation or overturned

F-2: 113-157 mph, considerable damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted

F-3: 158-205 mph, roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown

F-4: 207-260 mph, well constructed walls leveled

F-5: 261-318 mph, homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as 100 meters