Tornado

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms, spawned from powerful thunderstorms and can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds.

According to NOAA there were 1,266 confirmed tornados in 2010 and as of May 20 there have been 1084 this year, with hundreds of lives lost and millions of dollars in damage.

These violent storms appear as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Some are clearly visible, while rain, nearby low-hanging clouds, or darkness obscure others. Occasionally they develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.

The Damage path can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Most states are at some risk from this hazard.

Tornado Activity

This video demonstrates the power of these voilent storms.

Know the Facts

They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
They typically move Southwest to Northeast, but they have been known to move in any direction.
The average forward speed is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH.
They can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
They are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
Peak season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer.
They are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

How you can be prepared

Be alert to changing weather conditions.

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information.
Look for approaching storms
Look for the following danger signs:

Dark, often greenish sky
Large hail
A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
Loud roar, similar to a freight train.

If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

Taking Shelter

Your family could be anywhere when one strikes-at home, at work, at school, or in the car. Discuss with your family where the best shelters are and how family members can protect themselves from flying and falling debris.

The key to surviving and reducing the risk of injury lies in planning, preparing, and practicing what you and your family will do if one strikes. Go to Preparedness Plans for tips on disaster planning.

Flying debris causes most deaths and injuries and while there is no completely safe place during one, some locations are much safer than others. Go to Shelter and Personal Protection for ideas on creating a safe room or purchasing a storm shelter.

At Home

Tornado Victims Even your home is not completely safe but if you are at home when one hits, pick a place in the home where family members can gather. One basic rule is AVOID WINDOWS. An exploding window can injure or kill.

The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement.

If there is no basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet.

For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If possible, cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag, or mattress, and protect your head with anything available--even your hands.

Avoid taking shelter where there are heavy objects, such as pianos or refrigerators, on the area of floor that is directly above you. They could fall though the floor if the tornado strikes your house.

In a Mobile Home

DO NOT STAY IN A MOBILE HOME. Mobile homes can turn over during strong winds. Even mobile homes with a tie-down system cannot withstand the force of tornado winds.

Plan ahead. If you live in a mobile home, go to a nearby building, preferably one with a basement. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert and shield your head with your hands.

If you live in a tornado-prone area, encourage your mobile home community to build a tornado shelter.

On the Road

The least desirable place to be during a tornado is in a motor vehicle. Cars, buses, and trucks are easily tossed by tornado winds.

***DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN IT IN YOUR CAR. If you see one, stop your vehicle and get out. Do not get under your vehicle. Follow the directions for seeking shelter outdoors.

Outdoors

If you are caught outside during one and there is no adequate shelter immediately available--

Avoid areas with many trees.
Avoid vehicles.
Lie down flat in a gully, ditch, or low spot on the ground.
Protect your head with an object or with your arms.

Long-Span Buildings

A long-span building, such as a shopping mall, theater, or gymnasium, is especially dangerous because the roof structure is usually supported solely by the outside walls. Most such buildings hit by tornados cannot withstand the enormous pressure. They simply collapse.

If you are in a long-span building, stay away from windows. Get to the lowest level of the building--the basement if possible--and away from the windows.

If there is no time to get to a shelter or to a lower level, try to get under a door frame or get up against something that will support or deflect falling debris. For instance, in a department store, get up against heavy shelving or counters. In a theater, get under the seats. Remember to protect your head.

Public Buildings

Extra care is required in offices, schools, hospitals, or any building where a large group of people is concentrated in a small area. The exterior walls of such buildings often have large windows.

If you are in any of these buildings

Move away from windows and glass doorways.
Go to the innermost part of the building on the lowest possible floor.
Do not use elevators because the power may fail, leaving you trapped.
Protect your head and make yourself as small a target as possible by crouching down.

Shelter for People with Special Needs

Advance planning is especially important if you require assistance to reach shelter from an approaching storm.

If you are in a wheelchair, get away from windows and go to an interior room of the house. If possible, seek shelter under a sturdy table or desk. Do cover your head with anything available, even your hands.

If you are unable to move from a bed or a chair and assistance is not available, protect yourself from falling objects by covering up with blankets and pillows.