 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
What Is A Tornado?
A tornado is a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. It is
spawned by a thunderstorm (or sometimes as a result of a hurricane) and produced
when cool air overrides a layer of warm air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly. The
damage from a tornado is a result of the high wind velocity and wind-blown debris.
Tornado season is generally March through August, although tornadoes can occur at
any time of year. They tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings: over 80 percent
of all tornadoes strike between noon and midnight.
When a tornado is coming, you have only a short amount of time to make life-or-death
decisions. Advance planning and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado.
When a tornado threatens, individuals need to have a safe place to go and time to get
there. Even with advances in meteorology, warning times may be short or sometimes
not possible. Lives are saved when individuals receive and understand the warning,
know what to do, and know the safest place to go.
What Should I Do?
When a tornado is coming, you have only a short amount of time to make life-or-death
decisions. Advance planning and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado.
Before a Tornado: How to Plan Conduct tornado drills each tornado season. Designate
an area in the home as a shelter, and practice having everyone in the family go there
in response to a tornado threat. Discuss with family members the difference between a
"tornado watch" and a "tornado warning."
Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for
more information on tornadoes.
What to Do During a Tornado
If at home:
If you have a tornado safe room or engineered shelter go there immediately. Go at
once to a windowless, interior room; storm cellar; basement; or 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. 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:
Go to the area designated in your tornado plan. Avoid places with wide-span roofs
such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways, or shopping malls. 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 outdoors:
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. 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.
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
Nonelectric can opener
Essential medicines
Cash and credit cards
Sturdy shoes
Develop an emergency communication plan
In case family members are separated from one another during a tornado (a real
possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a
plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster,
it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the
name, address, and phone number of the contact person.
Tornado Watches and Warnings
A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when tornadoes are
possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. This is time to remind
family members where the safest places within your home are located, and listen to the
radio or television for further developments.
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by
weather radar.
Mobile Homes
Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable. 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 ditch
or low-lying area a safe distance away from the unit.
Tornado Danger Signs
Learn these 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.
Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not
uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
Last Updated: Friday, 22-Oct-2004 21:19:00 EDT
This information provided by FEMA from the WWW.FEMA.gov website. FEMA 500 C Street, SW Washington,
D.C. 20472 Phone: (202) 566-1600
