Tornado
Follow lightning and severe thunderstorm safety and
preparedness actions as well as the information provided below
(Roger
Edwards NWS SPC Norman,Ok)
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Safety
There is no such thing as guaranteed safety inside a tornado. Freak accidents
happen; and the most violent tornadoes can level
and blow away almost any house and its occupants. Extremely violent
F5 tornadoes are very rare, though. Most tornadoes are actually much weaker
and can be survived using these safety ideas...  Prevention and
practice before the storm: At home, have a family tornado plan
in place, based on the kind of dwelling you live in and the safety tips
below. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and practice
a family tornado drill at least once a year. Have a pre-determined place
to meet after a disaster. Flying
debris is the greatest danger in tornadoes; so store protective coverings
(e.g., mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc) in or next to your
shelter space, ready to use on a few seconds' notice. When a tornado watch
is issued, think about the drill and check to make sure all your safety
supplies are handy. Turn on local TV, radio or NOAA Weather Radio and
stay alert for warnings. Forget about the old notion of opening windows
to equalize pressure; the tornado will blast open the windows for you!
If you shop frequently at certain stores, learn where there are bathrooms,
storage rooms or other interior shelter areas away from windows, and the
shortest ways to get there. All administrators of schools, shopping centers,
nursing homes, hospitals, sports arenas, stadiums, mobile home communities
and offices should have a tornado safety plan in place, with easy-to-read
signs posted to direct everyone to a safe, closeby shelter area. Schools
and office building managers should regularly run well-coordinated drills.
If you are planning to build a house, especially east of the Rockies,
consider an underground tornado shelter or an
interior "safe room".
Know the signs
of a tornado: Weather forecasting science is not perfect and
some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning. There is no substitute
for staying alert to the sky. Besides an obviously
visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for:
- Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base.
- Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base -- tornadoes sometimes
have no funnel!
- Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.
- Day or night - Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
- Night - Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes
at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning
up in the clouds). These mean power lines are being snapped by very
strong wind, maybe a tornado.
- Night - Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated
or silhouetted by lightning -- especially if it is on
the ground or there is a blue-green-white power flash underneath.
WHAT TO DO...
In a house with a basement:
Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover
yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.)
and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.
In a house with
no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: 
Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom
or closet), under
a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as
low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your
hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an
interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding
(mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case
the roof and ceiling fail.
In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper:Go directly to an enclosed, windowless
area in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually
good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.
In a mobile home:Get out! Even if your home is tied down, you are probably safer
outside, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter out in the open. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds
that yours will make it. If your community has a tornado shelter, go there fast. If there is a sturdy permanent building
within easy running distance, seek shelter there. Otherwise, lie flat on low ground away from your home, protecting your head. If possible,
use open ground away from trees and cars, which can be blown onto you.
At school:Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or room in an orderly
way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head
with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.
In a car or truck:
Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado. If the tornado is visible,
far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its
path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Otherwise, park the car
as quickly and safely as possible -- out of the traffic lanes. [It is
safer to get the car out of mud later if necessary than to cause a crash.]
Get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If in the open country,
run to low ground away from any cars (which may roll over on you). Lie
flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Avoid
seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards
while offering little protection against flying debris.
In the open outdoors: If possible, seek
shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your
head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.
In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move as
quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.
In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly but
orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms.
If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.
AFTER THE TORNADO...
Keep your family together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
Carefully render aid to those who are injured. Stay away from power lines
and puddles with wires in them; they may still be carrying electricity!
Watch your step to avoid broken glass, nails, and other sharp objects.
Stay out of any heavily damaged houses or buildings; they could collapse
at any time. Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking natural
gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby. Remain calm and alert, and listen for
information and instructions from emergency crews or local officials.
Threat levels and suggested actions:
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Check forecasts for updates on thunderstorm potential once or twice during the day.
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Monitor the DSP page for
updates several times during the day and be aware of the factors
limiting tornadic storms such as limited shear, cap or instability.
If storms develop, be ready to activate spotters. |
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Spotter activation is likely. Find out the threat timing window for your area. There may be a webinar or web briefing posted on the DSP. |
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Spotter activation will be needed. There will be a webinar or briefing available on the web and posted on the DSP.
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All spotters and emergency managers will be needed. Pay close attention to all weather updates. There may be several webinars and web briefings during the day for this critical severe thunderstorm period. |
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Other information
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Noaa/NWS Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm/Lightning brochure
SPC Tornado FAQ
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