Tornado

The links below will take you to pages with more detailed information on tornadoes

How a Tornado Works

National Weather Service Tornado Info

Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage

TORNADO WATCH A tornado watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a tornado to occur.	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. Be prepared to seek shelter.
TORNADO WARNING A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted in the area.	Immediately seek safe shelter.
PRIOR TO THE THREAT Before you are faced with the threat of a tornado, plan now and be prepared.	Conduct tornado drills each tornado season. Designate an area in the home as a shelter. Conduct tornado drills with your family. Know the difference between a "watch" and a "warning." Have Emergency Supplies on hand. Flashlight and extra batteries Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries First aid kit and manual Emergency food and water Non-electric can opener Essential medicines Cash and credit cards Sturdy shoes
IF YOU SEE A TORNADO A tornado is one of nature's most awe inspiring events.  Be familiar with this information if in the event you spot a tornado.	Take cover immediately. Stay away from windows, doors, outside walls and open spaces. Protect your head from falling objects or flying debris. In public buildings, go to the pre-designated shelter areas. In a vehicle, trailer, or mobile home, get out immediately and go to a more substantial structure. Never get underneath a mobile home/trailer. Seek shelter on foot if possible. If there is no shelter nearby lie flat in the nearest ditch with your hands shielding your head.
DURING A TORNADO If you are in an area when a tornado strikes the following information is provided to help in protecting your family.	If in a Building Go to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the building. If no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows. Get away from the windows. Get under a piece of sturdy furniture. Use arms to protect head and neck. If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere. If Outside If possible, get inside a building. If shelter is not available, lie in a ditch 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. Get out of the car and take shelter in a nearby building. If shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or crouch near a strong building. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Use arms to protect head and neck.
THE AFTERMATH After a tornado strikes and area, there will be much debris.  Caution must be exercised to ensure your safety.	Help injured or trapped persons. Give first aid when appropriate. Don't try to move the seriously injured. Call for help. Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergency information. Stay out of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the buildings if you smell gas or chemical fumes. Take pictures of the damage--both to the house and its contents--for insurance purposes. Remember to help neighbors who may require special assistance (i.e. infants, elderly).

Tornado Faq's

Tornado Background
What is a Tornado
How do Tornadoes form?
Before a Tornado Threatens
Tornado Emergency Supplies
What is a Tornado Watch
What is a Tornado Warning
Tornado Danger Signs
If you spot a Tornado
What to do during a Tornado
What to do if outdoors
What to do if in a Car
Family Emergency Communications Plan
Post Tornadic Activities
Inspecting Utilities in a Damaged Home

Tornado Background
Each year about a thousand tornadoes touch down in the US.  Only a small percentage actually strike occupied buildings, but every year a number of people are killed or injured.  The chances that a tornado will strike a building that you are in are very small, however, you can greatly reduce the chance of injury by doing a few simple things.   One of the most important things you can do to prevent being injured in a tornado is to be ALERT to the onset of severe weather. Most deaths and injuries happen to people who are unaware and uninformed. Young children or the mentally challenged may not recognize a dangerous situation. The ill, elderly, or invalid may not be able to reach shelter in time.  Those who ignore the weather because of indifference or overconfidence may not perceive the danger. Stay aware, and you will stay alive!

When a tornado is spotted, 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. Whenever thunderstorms threaten your area you should listen to local media for latest information/instructions and keep a watch on the horizon. If you see any revolving funnel-shaped clouds, report them immediately.

What is a tornado?
A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes can produce massive destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Damage paths can be from 1 mile to 50 miles wide. The typical tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but they have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph but it may vary from stationary to 70mph. Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, they are found most frequently in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries. 

How do tornadoes form?
Before thunderstorms develop, a change in wind direction along with an increase of wind speed with increasing height creates an invisible, horizontal spinning effect in the lower atmosphere. Rising air within the thunderstorm updraft tilts the rotating air from horizontal to vertical. The area of rotation, 2-6 miles wide, now extends through much of the storm. This rotating column of air, known as a funnel extends from the cloud and grows downward toward the ground.  Once the funnel touches the ground is becomes a tornado. Since the center of the funnel is a low pressure area, air rushes into the column and rises. The air is cooled as it rises and water vapor condenses to form the familiar funnel shaped cloud. As the rotating winds begin to pick up dirt and debris from the ground, the funnel will darken. The strongest tornadoes occur in supercell thunderstorms which can also produce large hail and strong downbursts.

Before a Tornado Threatens

	Conduct tornado drills each tornado season.
	Designate an area in the home as a shelter.
	Conduct tornado drills with your family.
	Know the difference between a "watch" and a "warning."
	Have disaster supplies on hand.

Tornado Emergency Supplies

	Flashlight and extra batteries
	Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
	First aid kit and manual
	Emergency food and water
	Non-electric can opener
	Essential medicines
	Cash and credit cards
	Sturdy shoes

What is a Tornado Watch
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a tornado to occur. 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.  Be prepared to seek shelter.

What is a Tornado Warning
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted in the area. Immediately seek safe shelter.

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.

If you spot a Tornado

	Take cover immediately.
	Stay away from windows, doors, outside walls and open spaces.
	Protect your head from falling objects or flying debris.
	In public buildings, go to the pre-designated shelter areas.
	In a vehicle, trailer, or mobile home, get out immediately and go to a more substantial structure.
	Never get underneath a mobile home/trailer.
	Seek shelter on foot if possible.
	If there is no shelter nearby lie flat in the nearest ditch with your hands shielding your head.

What to do during a Tornado

	Go to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the building.
	If no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows.
	Get away from the windows.
	Get under a piece of sturdy furniture.
	Use arms to protect head and neck.
	If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.

What to do if outdoors

	If possible, get inside a building.
	If shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or crouch near a strong building.
	Be aware of the potential for flooding.
	Use arms to protect head and neck.

What to do if in a Car

	Never try to out drive a tornado. Get out of the car and take shelter in a nearby building.
	If shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or crouch near a strong building.
	Be aware of the potential for flooding.
	Use arms to protect head and neck.

Family Emergency Communications 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.

Post Tornadic Activities

	Help injured or trapped persons.
	Give first aid when appropriate.
	Don't try to move the seriously injured. Call for help.
	Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergency information.
	Stay out of damaged buildings.
	Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
	Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
	Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately.
	Leave the buildings if you smell gas or chemical fumes.
	Take pictures of the damage--both to the house and its contents--for insurance purposes.
	Remember to help neighbors who may require special assistance (i.e. infants, elderly).

Inspecting Utilities in a Damaged Home
Check for gas leaks--If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

Look for electrical system damage--If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.

Check for sewage and water lines damage--If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.