Tornado Warnings: Time To Take Action!

It was 12:45 p.m. on an unusually warm Sunday in fall 2013. My mother, my sister, and I had just finished brunch after returning home from church when the sky began to darken ominously. I looked out a window and saw dirt swirling up in the open farm field in a way I had never seen. We all had the same thought, which I said aloud—“There’s a tornado!â€

My mother’s limited mobility would have made going downstairs to our basement nearly impossible, so with hearts racing, we hurried to an interior bathroom and huddled in the bathtub. We silently prayed and listened to the roaring winds, waiting until we felt sure it was safe to emerge. As we did, we saw no serious damage around our property, but my sister and I hopped in her car to survey the area. We did not have to go far to see twisted metal and wood lying in the fields and in the road. As we approached a neighbor’s farm, we gasped in horror—her home was completely destroyed. When we arrived at the house, we were relieved to learn that she and her family had not been home.

Miraculously, nobody in our area was killed, but about 30 homes were destroyed, 15 businesses sustained damage, and the roof of a school was peeled back, according to the National Weather Service. The damage to the area was estimated at around $62.5 million. This terrifying event taught me that tornadoes do not always happen in the spring and summer. This EF-3 tornado—the third strongest type of tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale—struck on Nov. 17, hardly peak tornado season. Since then, I have learned that a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio would have been a good way to be informed during a situation like that when we had no other way to be aware of the watch issued that morning.

Tornado alerts come in two types—watches and warnings—which have different purposes and demand different reactions. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center issues watches. The target areas for a watch are usually broad, encompassing multiple counties or even states. A watch indicates that conditions are ideal for a tornado to form in and near the designated area, so everyone should be prepared to take shelter quickly if a warning is issued or if it seems that a tornado may be approaching.

During a watch, you should stay tuned to local radio and television stations, the National Weather Service website (https://weather.gov), your local government’s emergency management website, or the NOAA Weather Radio and NOAA’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/NOAA) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NOAA) accounts for further weather information.

You should also be alert to changing weather conditions. The danger signs of a tornado include a dark and often greenish sky, large hail, a large and dark rotating funnel-shaped or low-lying cloud, and a loud roar similar to a freight train. You should secure or bring in outdoor items such as patio furniture, toys, and trash cans that strong winds can lift and carry.

Your local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office issues warnings, which usually cover only the cities or small counties that may be affected. A warning means one needs to take shelter quickly because a forecaster has identified a tornado funnel on radar, or a trained spotter has sighted a rotating funnel cloud. Lives and property are in imminent danger. Storm cellars or basements offer the most protection; otherwise, you should go to a windowless interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Secure your pets if time allows. If you are in a mobile home, vehicle, tent, shed, storage facility, or outside, move to the closest sturdy building and shield yourself from flying debris. Do not open windows.

If you are in a vehicle and cannot make it to a safe shelter, get down in your car with your seat belt on and cover your head with your arms, a blanket, coat, or another cushion. You might also consider lying flat in a low-lying area, such as a ditch, culvert, or ravine and covering your head. Avoid places with wide-span roofs, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums, cafeterias, supermarkets, and shopping malls.

During rare events such as a tornado outbreak near a heavily populated area, a tornado emergency might be issued. Emergencies are similar to warnings but indicate a powerful tornado with a much higher potential of property damage and loss of life. Just as with a tornado warning, those in the path of a tornado emergency should seek shelter and wait for authorities to declare the area safe.

After a tornado, if you are trapped and cannot call or text for help, try tapping on a pipe or wall or using a whistle to help rescuers find you. Reunite with your family members at a preplanned meeting location unless public safety officials direct otherwise. When assessing any destruction to your home or immediate surroundings, be extremely cautious of potential dangers, such as ruptured gas lines, structural damage, downed electrical lines, localized flooding, nails, and broken glass. Immediately call 911 to report any injuries, trapped persons, or hazards. Administer first aid where appropriate, but do not move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger. If you suspect a gas leak, go outside and do not turn on or off electrical switches or appliances. If your property is damaged, take photos or videos to document the damage, and contact your insurance company. Do not use generators inside because their fumes contain carbon monoxide.

Practice specifically how and where you take shelter and prepare an emergency kit. The kit should contain a family emergency plan that specifies how family members will get in contact with each other, where they will go, and what they will do in an emergency. The kit should be in a durable, waterproof container and include bottled water, nonperishable food, a NOAA radio, a flashlight and batteries, personal hygiene products, a first aid kit, a whistle, a manual can opener, copies of important documents, a blanket or towel, any necessary medications, basic tools, waterproof matches or a lighter, extra cash, and a change of clothes. You should also find a safe place to store photo or video records of your personal property.

Although I grew up in an area where tornado drills were common, I now realize my family and I were not as well prepared as we could have been. Thoughtful planning can help keep your loved ones safe during a tornado.