Take Our Survey!

We want your feedback! Complete Survey 3 – Notification Preference by April 30 at 11:59 PM and include your contact info to enter a drawing for a $75 bill credit. Three members will be randomly selected. Help us improve how we connect and share updates with you!
Take the Survey

Tornado Safety

Keep safe wherever you are during dangerous storms

If you’ve lived in the Midwest for any length of time, you know this section of the country has a reputation for being a place where tornadoes are relatively common, especially in the warmer months. Although tornadoes are more common in the Midwest and the Central Plains, they have been reported in all 50 states.

While it’s helpful to always know the forecast for your area, it’s particularly important during the summer months when severe weather can put lives at risk. Pay attention when the forecast calls for thunderstorms and the potential for severe weather. The following are tips for staying safe no matter where you are when a tornado develops.

At home

Once a tornado watch has been issued for your area, meaning conditions are favorable for them to develop, you want to stay updated with local media or other sources. If you’re at home and a tornado warning is issued, go to your basement or an interior space with no windows or doors to the outside. Take your pets with you.

At work

If you’ve never practiced what to do during severe weather at school or work, now may be a good time to familiarize yourself with safety plans. Where are the tornado shelters at your workplace? If your company doesn’t have a plan, consider developing one. When a tornado warning is issued, help your co-workers get to a safe place with no windows.

Outside

If you are outside during a tornado warning, try to find shelter in a sturdy building. It’s important to remember that sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are unsafe during tornado warnings. If no shelter is available, lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area, cover your head with your arms, and get as far away from trees as possible.

On the road

If you can’t safely drive to a shelter, pull over, leave the car, and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch. Make sure to cover your head. Do not try to outrun the storm. A vehicle is considered one of the least safe places during a tornado.

You should stay in your safe space until the severe risk has passed your area. Remember, multiple rounds of storms producing tornadoes are possible when severe weather strikes your city. Once the threat has passed, then let family and loved ones know you’re safe.

Source: National Weather Service

 Understanding weather alerts

It can be confusing to remember the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. The National Weather Service offers three alerts to notify the public about emergency situations during dangerous storms.

Tornado Watch: Stay prepared

This is the time to ensure you have a safety plan and monitor the weather conditions. A watch means tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Since a tornado warning can quickly be activated, a watch means you need to stay alert to changing conditions.

Tornado Warning: Take action

This is a more immediate threat than a watch. A warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. It means there is imminent danger to life and property. You need to take action and get to a safe spot.

Tornado Emergency: Stay in a safe place

This is the National Weather Service’s highest alert level. It’s issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. Remember that this alert means there is a severe threat to human life and property, with catastrophic damage confirmed. You need to go to your safe space immediately. If you see this alert for another area, call people you know who could be affected.

Source: National Weather Service

Identifying safe shelter areas

An underground area, such as a basement or storm cellar, provides the best protection from a tornado. If an underground shelter is unavailable, consider the following:

  • Seek a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible
  • Stay away from doors, windows, and outside walls
  • Stay in the center of the room, and avoid corners because they attract debris
  • Look for rooms constructed with reinforced concrete, brick, or block with no windows and a heavy concrete floor or roof system overhead
  • Avoid auditoriums, cafeterias, and gymnasiums that have flat, wide-span roofs

Source: OSHA