Tornado Safety: Where to Shelter and What to Do

Tornadoes

A tornado can form in minutes and destroy a street while leaving the next one untouched. They are most frequent in the United States, but they also occur across Europe every year. You will have little time, so the decision must already be made: where is your shelter, and how fast can everyone get there?

1. Before

Choose your shelter now: a basement or storm cellar, or an interior room without windows on the lowest floor, such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.
Know the alerts. A watch means tornadoes are possible. A warning means one has been seen or detected: take shelter immediately.
Enable emergency alerts on your phone and keep a battery radio.
Learn the signs: a rotating funnel cloud, a dark or greenish sky, large hail, and a loud roar like a freight train.
Practise with your family. See Make a Plan.
Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado. Know the nearest sturdy building.

2. During

In a building

Go to your shelter at once. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
Stay away from windows. Do not open them.
Get under something sturdy, and cover your head and neck with your arms, a mattress or blankets.

In a car or outdoors

Do not try to outrun a tornado in traffic. Get to a sturdy building if you can.
Do not shelter under a bridge or overpass.
If there is no shelter, stay in the car with your seat belt on and your head down below the windows, covered, or lie flat in a low spot away from the car and trees, and cover your head.

3. After

Keep listening to official information. More tornadoes can follow.
Stay away from fallen power lines and damaged buildings.
If you are trapped, cover your mouth, and tap on a pipe or wall or use a whistle rather than shouting.
Wear sturdy shoes, long trousers and gloves when cleaning up.
Text family that you are safe. Keep calls for emergencies.