Guidance on tornado safety comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Ready.gov site and the National Weather Service. Ready.gov describes steps to take before, during, and after a tornado. The National Weather Service provides preparation advice and actions to take when a tornado strikes.
How to prepare before a tornado
Ready.gov says to know the area’s tornado risk and the signs of a tornado. These signs include a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar like a freight train. Ready.gov also advises paying attention to weather reports because meteorologists can predict when conditions might be right for a tornado.
Ready.gov advises signing up for a community warning system. It says the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. If a community uses sirens, Ready.gov says to become familiar with the warning tone.
Both agencies describe planning for shelter. Ready.gov advises identifying and practicing going to a safe shelter such as a safe room built using FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards. It says the next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building. The National Weather Service advises picking a safe room in the home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
The National Weather Service advises creating a family communications plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. It also says that if a household is in a mobile home or a home without a basement, a nearby safe building should be identified that can be reached quickly. The National Weather Service advises practicing the plan by conducting a family severe thunderstorm drill so everyone knows what to do when tornado warnings are issued.
Ready.gov says to include pets in a family emergency plan. It also advises preparing for a long-term stay at home or sheltering in place by gathering emergency supplies, cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, water, medical supplies, and medication.
Warning systems and staying informed
Ready.gov advises listening to local weather reports and officials for updated emergency information and following their instructions under a tornado or severe weather warning. Ready.gov notes that the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio provide emergency alerts, and that some communities use sirens. The National Weather Service advises checking the forecast regularly and listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.
What to do during a tornado at home, school, or work
The National Weather Service says that if a tornado warning is in effect at home, go to a basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. At a workplace or school, the National Weather Service advises following the tornado drill and proceeding to the tornado shelter location quickly and calmly, staying away from windows and avoiding large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums. Ready.gov advises immediately going to the safe location that has been identified, paying attention to the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current information and instructions, and protecting the head or neck with arms while putting materials such as furniture and blankets around or on top.
What to do during a tornado outside or in a vehicle
The National Weather Service says that if outside and a tornado is approaching, seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately. It says sheds and storage facilities are not safe, and neither are mobile homes or tents. If there is time, the National Weather Service says to get to a safe building.
For vehicles, the National Weather Service states that being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe and that the best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If a safe shelter cannot be reached, the National Weather Service says to either get down in the car and cover the head, or abandon the car and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine. Ready.gov states there is no safe option when caught in a tornado in a car, only slightly less dangerous ones. Ready.gov adds that if a tornado is visible, far away, and traffic is light, it may be possible to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado; if caught by extreme winds or flying debris, it advises parking as quickly and safely as possible out of the traffic lanes, staying in the car with the seat belt on, putting the head down below the windows, and covering the head with the hands and a blanket, coat, or other cushion if possible. Ready.gov also says that if it is safe to get noticeably lower than the roadway level, a person can leave the car and lie in that area, covering the head with hands, and it advises avoiding shelter under bridges because they can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.
What to do after a tornado
Ready.gov advises paying attention to the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio, and local authorities for updated information. Ready.gov says to save phone calls for emergencies and use text messaging or social media to communicate with family and friends. It also advises staying clear of fallen power lines or broken utility lines, contacting a healthcare provider if sick and needing medical attention and waiting for further care instructions while continuing to shelter in place, and wearing appropriate gear during cleanup such as thick-soled shoes, long pants, and work gloves, using appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.
Additional planning resources
The National Weather Service points to NOAA Weather Radio and Weather-Ready Nation tips for preparedness information. It also says to consider having a safe room reinforced and notes that plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection are available on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website. Ready.gov lists additional resources, including a tornado information sheet and guidance on building a safe room inside a house.