What to Do Before, During and After a Tornado

When a tornado is coming, you have only a short amount of time to make a life‐or‐death decision. Advance planning, quick response, and a diligent recovery effort are the keys to survival.

Before

• Conduct tornado drills each tornado season
• Designate an area in the home as a shelter and practice having everyone in the household go there is a threat of a tornado
• Have disaster supplies on hand:
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Portable, battery‐operated radio and extra batteries
  • First‐aid kit and manual
  • Emergency food and water
  • Non‐electric can opener
  • Essential medicines
  • Cash and credit cards
  • Sturdy shoes
  • Cellular phone
• If household members are separated during a tornado, have a meeting place for getting back together
• Designate one or two out‐of‐state relatives and friends as emergency contacts; after a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance
• Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on tornadoes

Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when tornadoes are likely to develop. If a watch is issued, remind household members of where to go, and listen to the radio or TV for further developments. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar; everyone should go to a safe place, turn on a battery‐ operated radio, and wait for further instructions.

During

At Home:

• Go at once to the basement or storm cellar
• If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or a closet
• Stay away from windows
• Go to the center of the room; stay away from corners because they tend to attract debris
• Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table, and hold on to it if possible
• Use your arms, a heavy blanket or pillow to help protect your head and neck
• If you are in a mobile home, get out and try to find shelter elsewhere

At Work or School:

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

Outdoors:

• If possible, get inside a building
• If shelter isn’t available and there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low‐lying area or crouch near a sturdy building
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck

In a Car:

• Leave the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building
• If shelter isn’t available and there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low‐ lying area or crouch near a sturdy building
• Never try to out‐drive a tornado in a car or truck; tornadoes can change direction quickly and can lift and toss your vehicle through the air

After

• Help injured or trapped persons
• Give first aid when appropriate; don’t move the seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger of further injury; call for help
• Turn on the radio or television to get the latest information
• Stay out of damaged buildings; return home only when authorities say it’s safe
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls
• Clean up spilled medicines, bleach, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately
• Leave a building if you smell gas or chemical fumes
• Take pictures of damage to the house and its contents for insurance purposes
• Help neighbors who may require special assistance like people with infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities

Additional Resources:

• www.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes
• weather.com/safety/tornado
• www.redcross.org/aet-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tornado