These images show: a tornado, a radar image of a tornado, places where it is dangerous to be during a tornado, and a weather radio. Images of Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), National Weather Service Forecast Office of Paducah, Kentucky, Alicia Pearce, Vanessa Pearce, Mitchell Shmiganowsky, and NOAA

The best way to protect you and your family from being injured or killed from a tornado comes from being prepared and knowing what to do. Before a storm even occurs, individuals and families should be prepared for a tornado.

The first step is to create a plan for when people are at home, work, school, and outdoors. Make sure everyone knows what shelter to go to for every situation. Most shopping malls, sports arenas, office buildings, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and mobile home communities have a tornado safety plan in place. Next, go through a series of drills to practice the plan. Keep a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery back-up in your home so you can receive warnings there. Listen to the forecasts so you can be ready if there is a possible threat of bad weather.

When a tornado warning is issued or threatening weather is near, it is important to know what to do. If you are in a home or a building, move to a pre-designated shelter (basement) and get under a heavy workbench, table, or staircase, or cover yourself in a sleeping bag/mattress. Make sure you know where the heavy objects are on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, and waterbeds), and make sure that you are not underneath them because they could fall through the floor and injure you.

When a pre-designated shelter or basement is unavailable, go to an interior room (bathroom or closet) or hallway on the lowest floor of the building. Stay away from windows. Make sure everyone is covered with a blanket or a mattress to be protected from debris, and crouch on floor as low as possible, facing down, covering your head. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. If you are outside or in a vehicle, then go to a nearby ditch or depression and lie flat if no sturdy buildings are in sight. Do not take shelter under bridges because the tornado can form a wind tunnel under the bridge. A mobile home provides very little protection and should be abandoned.

Keep an eye on the sky especially when bad weather appears to be brewing. Tune into local television stations and your NOAA radio for the most up to date information about tornadoes in your area.

These images show: a tornado, a radar image of a tornado, places where it is dangerous to be during a tornado, and a weather radio. Images of Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), National Weather Service Forecast Office of Paducah, Kentucky, Alicia Pearce, Vanessa Pearce, Mitchell Shmiganowsky, and NOAA

The best way to protect you and your family from being injured or killed from a tornado comes from being prepared and knowing what to do. Families can prepare for a storm before it arrives.

The first step is to create a plan for when people are at home, work, school, and outdoors. Most shopping malls, sports arenas, office buildings, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and mobile home communities have a tornado safety plan in place. Next, practice your plan. Listen to the forecasts so you can be ready if there is a possible threat of bad weather.

If you are in a home or a building when a tornado warning is issued, move to a basement or similar shelter. It is helpful to get under a heavy workbench, sturdy table, or staircase for extra protection. Sleeping bags and mattresses can provide good protection, especially when there is no access to the previously mentioned items.

When a basement or similar shelter isn’t available, go to a hallway or room in the center of the building (bathroom or closet) and get under a stable piece of furniture or a staircase. Stay away from windows. Make sure everyone is covered with a blanket or a mattress to be protected from debris, and crouch on floor as low as possible, facing down, covering your head. Automobiles and mobile homes are unsafe places to be during a tornado. If you are outside or in a vehicle, then go to a nearby ditch or depression and lie flat. This should be done if no sturdy buildings can be found in the area nearby. Do not take shelter under bridges.

Make sure to be on the lookout for any bad weather in the area. Tune into local television stations and your NOAA radio for the most up to date information about tornadoes in your area.

These images show: a tornado, a radar image of a tornado, places where it is dangerous to be during a tornado, and a weather radio. Images of Courtesy of NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), National Weather Service Forecast Office of Paducah, Kentucky, Alicia Pearce, Vanessa Pearce, Mitchell Shmiganowsky, and NOAA

It is important to be ready for tornadoes because they are very dangerous. You and your family should make a plan for where you should go to be safe if there is a tornado where you are. Most places like schools, shopping malls, hospitals, and office buildings have a plan for a safe place where people can go during a tornado. It is a good idea to practice for a tornado. This is called a tornado drill. Also, before going outside, you should check the weather or the forecast.

A basement can provide a great shelter when there is a tornado warning. If a building or house does not have a basement, then a bathroom or closet in the center of the house on the first floor will work. It is important that you and your family stay away from windows. Everyone should be crouched on the ground as low as possible, facing down, and covering their heads.

Automobiles and mobile homes are unsafe places to be during a tornado. If you are outside or in a vehicle, then go to a nearby ditch and lie flat. Only go into a ditch if you can’t find a sturdy building nearby. Bridges are not sturdy buildings.

Make sure to be on the lookout for any bad weather in the area. Tune into local television stations for the latest updates on tornado watches or warnings.