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Tornadoes
For Homes:
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Monitor NOAA Weather Radio.
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When a tornado watch is issued, be prepared to take action.
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When a tornado warning is issued, or a tornado is imminent, move to a small
interior room away from windows.
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Consider constructing a
tornado safe room in or adjacent to your home (see below).
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For
Manufactured Housing:
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Monitor NOAA Weather Radio.
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Have a plan of where to go during a tornado threat
- a nearby pre-identified
safe structure within walking distance.
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When a tornado watch is issued, be prepared to take action.
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When conditions warrant, move to the pre-identified safe structure.
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If you live in a mobile or manufactured home park, get together with other
residents and the park owner / manager to designate safe shelter areas in the
park or community.
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For Open Country:
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Seek a nearby shelter if time permits.
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If not, lie flat in the nearest depression, a ditch or culvert. Cover your head
with your arms.
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For Vehicles:
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Abandon your vehicle and seek refuge in a building or – as a last resort – a
ditch or culvert.
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Do not try to outrun a tornado.
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For Offices, Condominiums, and Hotels:
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Monitor NOAA Weather Radio.
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When action is required, take shelter in an interior hallway on a lower floor,
closet or small room.
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As a last resort, get under heavy furniture, away from windows.
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For Schools and Auditoriums:
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Have a written disaster plan, assign responsibilities and exercise elements of
the plan on a regular basis.
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Get weather awareness training for staff
- the National Weather Service can
provide this.
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Designate tornado safe areas.
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Monitor NOAA Weather Radio
- check the alert tests weekly.
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During watches, monitor several sources of information.
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Hold tornado drills at least four times each year.
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Announce watches when issued.
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Evacuate vulnerable areas such as temporary classrooms and classrooms with
glass windows when threatening weather and /or tornadoes approach during a
tornado watch.
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Consider delayed departures from school if severe weather threatens.
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Schools and parents need to have a reunification plan in place.
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Safe Rooms:
Having a safe room or shelter built into your house can help you protect
yourself and your family from injury or death caused by the dangerous forces of
extreme winds. It can also relieve some of the anxiety created by the threat of
an oncoming tornado or hurricane.
Click for more information:
FEMA:
Taking Shelter from the Storm, Building a Safe Room Inside Your House
Preparedness Brochures:
Are
You Ready for a Tornado?
(web
version)
FEMA
Are Your Ready: Tornadoes
Tornadoes...Nature's
Most Violent Storms
(web
version)
Links:
FLASH Card: Severe Winds
National
Weather Service: Severe Weather Awareness Page
Institute
for Business and Home Safety: Tornado
National Weather Service (NOAA) Weather Radio
For Kids:
FEMA
for Kids: Tornadoes
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