
			    FACT SHEET: TORNADOES

    When a tornado is coming, 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.

    BEFORE
    Conduct tornado drills each tornado season.

    Designate an area in the home as a shelter, and practice having everyone
    in the family go there in response to a tornado threat.

    Discuss with family members the difference between a "tornado watch" and
    a "tornado warning."

    Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross
    chapter for more information on tornadoes.

    Have disaster supplies on hand.

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

    Develop an emergency communication plan.
    In case family members are separated from one another during a tornado (a
    real possibility uring 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.

    Tornado Watches and Warnings 
    A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when weather
    conditions are such that tornadoes are likely to develop. 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.

    A tornado warning is is issued when a tornado has been sighted or
    indicated by radar. The danger is very serious and everyone should go to
    a safe place, turn on a battery-operated radio and wait for further
    instructions.

    Mobile Homes
    Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable. A mobile home can overturn very
    easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. When a
    tornado warning is issued, take shelter in a building with a strong
    foundation. If shelter is not available, lie in ditch or low-lying area a
    safe distance away from the unit.

    Tornado Danger Signs
    Learn these tornado danger signs:

    Large hail: Tornadoes are spawned from powerful thunderstorms and the
    most powerful thunderstorms produce large hail. Tornadoes frequently
    emerge from near the hail-producing portion of the storm.
    Calm before the storm: Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and
    the air may become very still.

    Cloud of debris: An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of
    a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.

    Funnel cloud: A visible rotating extension of the cloud base is a sign
    that a tornado may develop. A tornado is evident when one or more of the
    clouds turns greenish (a phenomenon caused by hail) and a dark funnel
    descends.

    Roaring noise: The high winds of a tornado can cause a roar that is often
    compared with the sound of a freight train.

    Calm behind the storm: Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge
    of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a
    tornado.

    DURING
    If at home:

   Go at once to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the
       building. 
   If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room
       without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. 
   Get away from the windows. 
   Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners because they tend
       to attract debris. 
   Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table
       or desk and hold on to it. 
   Use arms to protect head and neck. 
   If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere. 

    If at work or school:

   Go to the basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest level. 
   Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large
       hallways, or shopping malls. 
   Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table
       or desk and hold on to it. 
   Use arms to protect head and neck. 

    If outdoors:

   If possible, get inside a building. 
   If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a
       ditch or low-lying area 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 outdrive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes can change
       direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss it through
       the air. 
   Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. 
   If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a
       ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle. Be aware of the
       potential for flooding. 

    AFTER
    Help injured or trapped persons
    . Give first aid when appropriate. Don't try to move the seriously
    injured unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. 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 your neighbors who may require special
    assistance--infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

    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.

    Mitigation
    Mitigation includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the
    chance of an emergency happening, or lessen the damaging effects of
    unavoidable emergencies. Investing in preventive mitigation steps now,
    such as checking local building codes and ordinances about wind-resistant
    designs and strengthening unreinforced masonry, will help reduce the
    impact of tornadoes in the future. For more information on mitigation,
    contact your local emergency management office.
