Tornadoes are powerful and unpredictable, but being prepared can help you stay safe. This guide will explain what to do during a tornado watch or warning and provide tips to protect you and your family.
Understanding Tornado Watches and Warnings
Understanding the distinction between a tornado watch and a tornado warning is essential. A tornado watch means conditions are right for a tornado to form, whereas a warning means that a tornado has been sighted or identified by radar. Understanding these differences can help you take the right actions to stay safe.
What is a Tornado Watch?
A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in your area. This doesn’t mean a tornado has been seen, but the weather conditions could produce one. It’s a time to be alert and prepared.
What to Do During a Tornado Watch
1. Be Ready to Take Cover:
Identify your tornado-safe space away from windows, such as a basement or an interior room on the ground floor.
2. Gather Necessary Supplies:
- Emergency Kit: Include water, non-perishable food, and a flashlight.
- First Aid Kit: Have bandages, antiseptics, and any necessary medications.
- NOAA Emergency Weather Alert Radio: This can provide important updates.
- Bike Helmet: This can help protect your head from debris.
3. Additional Items:
- Purse or Wallet: Include keys, identification, and credit cards.
- Phone: Keep it charged and have a weather-alert app installed.
- Medications: Ensure you have any necessary prescriptions.
- Shoes: Wear sturdy shoes in case you need to walk over debris.
4. Pet Preparations:
- Move small, caged pets to your safe area.
- For uncaged pets, put on their collars and leashes and be ready to move them.
5. If You’re in a Car or Outdoors:
- Find a permanent structure for shelter.
What is a Tornado Warning?
A tornado warning is more serious. It means a tornado has been seen or detected by radar. When a warning is issued, you must act quickly to protect yourself.
What to Do During a Tornado Warning
1. Seek Shelter Immediately:
2. If You Are Indoors:
- Basement: Go to the basement if it’s not prone to flooding. Stay away from windows and protect yourself under sturdy furniture.
- Pets: Remember to bring your pets with you.
- Additional Cover: Protect your head and neck with your arms and cover yourself with a blanket or mattress for extra protection.
- Office or Apartment Building: Move to the lowest level possible and seek shelter in an inner hallway, stairwell, or room away from windows.
- Large Open Buildings: If you can’t leave, cover under a sturdy structure like a heavy table to protect yourself if the roof collapses.
- Mobile Homes: Quickly go to an underground shelter or a nearby sturdy, permanent structure.
3. If You Are in a Car or Outdoors:
- Don’t Try to Outrun a Tornado: Find the nearest solid shelter immediately.
- No Shelter Available: Get out of the car and lie in a low-lying area like a ditch. Cover your head and watch for flying debris.
Staying Informed and Taking Action
It’s important to stay informed during a tornado watch or warning. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or a local alert system for information and instructions. Keeping updated with the latest information can help you make the best decisions for your safety.
Recovery Steps After a Tornado
Even after the tornado has passed, there can still be dangers. Here are some recovery steps to follow:
- Assess For Injuries: Make sure everyone is safe and provide first aid if necessary.
- Stay Out of Damaged Buildings: Wait for authorities to declare them safe.
- Avoid Downed Power Lines: These can still be live and dangerous.
- Report Damage: Contact your insurance company and local authorities to report damage.
Conclusion
Tornadoes can be scary, but knowing what to do can make a big difference. Knowing the difference between a tornado watch and a warning and taking the right actions can help keep you and your loved ones safe. Always stay informed and prepared; remember that your safety is the most important thing.
FAQs
What should I do if I’m driving during a tornado watch or warning?
If you are driving during a tornado watch, stay alert for weather updates and be prepared to find shelter quickly. If a tornado warning is issued while you are driving, seek shelter in a sturdy building immediately. If no shelter is available, exit the vehicle and find a low-lying area like a ditch to lie in, covering your head and neck to protect yourself from debris.
What if I live in an apartment and there’s a tornado warning?
If you live in an apartment and a tornado warning is issued, go to the lowest level of the building. Seek shelter in an interior hallway, stairwell, or room away from windows. Protect yourself under sturdy furniture if necessary and bring pets with you.
How do I know if it’s safe to come out after a tornado?
Wait until local authorities declare it safe to come out after a tornado. Be cautious of hazards such as downed power lines, broken glass, and structural damage. Stay informed through NOAA Weather Radio or local alert systems for updates and instructions.
What should I do if I’m caught outdoors and cannot find shelter during a tornado?
If you are caught outdoors and cannot find shelter during a tornado, lie flat in a nearby ditch or low-lying area. Cover your head and neck with your arms and watch for flying debris. Do not seek shelter under an overpass or bridge, as these structures can be dangerous during a tornado.
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