Tornado preparedness is most useful before the sky turns threatening. The National Weather Service advises families to know where they will shelter, keep ways to receive warnings and understand the difference between being ready and taking immediate action.
At home, the safest place is typically a basement, storm shelter or small interior room on the lowest floor away from windows. Families should practice getting there quickly, including plans for children, older relatives, people with disabilities and pets when time allows.
An emergency kit should include water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, needed medications, phone chargers and a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio. Those supplies are also useful when tornadoes are part of a larger storm system that can knock out power.
When a tornado warning is issued, the priority is shelter, not watching the storm. People in vehicles or mobile homes should seek a sturdy building if possible. If no shelter is available, follow official guidance and protect the head and neck.
After a storm, the danger is not over. Downed power lines, broken glass, debris, gas leaks and flooded roads can injure people after the winds pass. Jessica Storm’s rule is simple: get alerts, get low, stay covered, and wait for official all-clear information.
Additional Reporting By: National Weather Service; NOAA; Ready.gov; Indiana Department of Transportation