Best shelter: basement or storm cellar. If no basement, use an interior room on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, hallway). Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls. Keep mattress or heavy blankets nearby to protect from debris.
⚠️ Watch vs Warning
Tornado Watch: Conditions are favorable for tornadoes. Stay alert and be ready to act. Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or detected on radar. Take shelter IMMEDIATELY.
During a Tornado
✓ Do
Go to basement or lowest interior room
Protect your head and neck
Get under sturdy furniture
Stay away from windows
✗ Don't
Stay in a mobile home
Try to outrun it in a car
Shelter under a highway overpass
Stand near windows or doors
🚗 If in a Vehicle
Drive to the nearest sturdy shelter if you can safely do so. If you can't, park the car, keep your seatbelt on, duck below the windows, and cover your head. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie flat in a ditch covering your head.
🏢 If in a Building
Go to the lowest floor, smallest interior room. Closets, bathrooms, and rooms under stairwells are good choices. Put as many walls between you and the outside as possible. Cover yourself with a mattress or thick blankets.
After a Tornado
✓ Do
Watch for debris and downed power lines
Check for gas leaks (smell, hissing)
Wear sturdy shoes and gloves
Help trapped neighbors if safe to do so
✗ Don't
Enter severely damaged buildings
Use matches (possible gas leaks)
Move seriously injured people
Ignore structural damage
🏚️ Damage Assessment
Watch for broken glass and nails. Check for structural damage to walls, roof, and foundation before entering. If you smell gas, leave immediately and call the fire department. Turn off electricity at the main breaker if you suspect damage to wiring.
📋 Recovery Steps
Contact your insurance company immediately. Document all damage with photos and video. Keep receipts for all emergency expenses. Apply for disaster assistance if available. Check on neighbors, especially elderly and disabled.