Tornado Safety
Learn how to stay safe during a tornado, and how to improve your home’s ability to withstand tornadoes.
Tornado Safety
Find Shelter Locations from High Winds in the Places Where You Spend a Lot of Time
- Find a safe room built to withstand high winds. The next best protection is a small room with no windows on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
- Mobile, manufactured, trailer homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) are not safe in high wind events. Plan ahead by finding a sturdy building to shelter in before a tornado watches or warning.
Practice Tornado Drills
- With your entire household, practice moving quickly to the safe locations that you identified.
- Create a personal support team of people you may assist and who can assist you.
- If you live in a mobile home, practice going to a safe place.
Plan to Stay Connected
- Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.
- Plan to monitor local weather and news.
- Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone.
- In case of a power outage, have a battery-powered radio.
- Know the difference:
- Tornado Watch: Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Be ready to act fast!
- Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado is nearby. There is danger. Move to safe location right away.
- You may not always receive a tornado warning. Know the signs of a tornado. Take shelter if you feel you are in danger.
Gather Emergency Supplies
- Gather food, water, and medicine. Stores and pharmacies might be closed. Organize supplies into a Go-Kit and a Stay-at-Home-Kit:
- Go-Kit: at least 3 days of supplies that you can carry with you. Include batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.)
- Stay-at-Home Kit: at least 2 weeks of supplies.
- Have a 1-month supply of medication in a child-proof container, and other needed medical supplies or equipment.
- Keep personal, financial, and medical records safe and easy to access (hard copies or securely backed up). Consider keeping a list of your medications and dosages on a small card to carry with you.
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