AT HOME, SCHOOL OR WORK:

• Your school or workplace needs to have an approved tornado safety plan for you to follow. If not then a plan needs to be developed. Every second counts!
• Go immediately to the lowest level of the building such as a basement or storm cellar. If there is no basement go to an interior hallway or room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.
• Get away from windows! It is not true that opening windows will reduce damage to your home.
• Avoid large, wide places such as auditoriums, cafeterias, theaters, warehouses and large hallways in shopping malls.
• Get under a stairwell or a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it. If possible cover yourself with a rug, mattress or blanket. Otherwise, use your arms to protect your head and neck from debris.

IN A MOBILE HOME OR OUTDOORS:

• People in mobile homes and outdoors are particularly susceptible to tornado damage. Go immediately to a neighboring frame home or a storm shelter.
• If shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the mobile home. Use your arms to protect your head and neck from debris.

IN A HIGH RISE BUILDING:

• There may not be enough time to get to the basement or storm shelter. In this case, interior rooms and halls and central stairwells are the best locations in large building.
• Do not use elevators, and stay away from walls or windows.

IN A VEHICLE:

• NEVER try to out drive a tornado in a car or truck.
• Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. If there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle. Be aware of the potential for flooding.
• Protect your head and neck from debris with your arms.

TORNADOES will often accompany a severe thunderstorm and are only one of many thunderstorm hazards. Below is a list of other thunderstorm hazards:

• LIGHTNING - Kills and injures hundreds and starts fires.  Having your home or a building properly grounded will help prevent a lightning strike and probably damage to household/business equipment and/or appliances.
• WINDS - Winds of a thunderstorm are usually very strong, and gusty, which can result in a great amount of damage.
• RAIN - Heavy downpours can result in flash floods.
• HAIL - Not usually a killer but can be very damaging.
• FLASH FLOODS - Waters that can rise rapidly and without warning. They can destroy life and property.

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WATCH AND A WARNING, YOUR LIFE COULD DEPEND ON IT.

A TORNADO WATCH means that Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are possible.

A TORNADO WARNING means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. YOU MUST TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY!

When severe weather threatens STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND/OR TELEVISION STATION FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.