Tornado Warning

Go to the lowest level, interior room, away from windows. Put as many walls between you and outside as possible.

Severe T-Storm Warning

Large hail and damaging winds can still be dangerous. Stay indoors and away from windows.

Watch vs Warning

A watch means be ready. A warning means take action now.

EF0 – Weak

65–85 mph

Minor damage. Tree branches snap, shallow-rooted trees pushed over, small structural damage.

EF1 – Moderate

86–110 mph

Roof damage becomes more common. Windows break, mobile homes shift or overturn.

EF2 – Strong

111–135 mph

Major damage. Roofs torn off, large trees snapped, vehicles lifted.

EF3 – Severe

136–165 mph

Entire floors destroyed. Walls ripped off strong homes. Heavy vehicles thrown.

EF4 – Violent

166–200 mph

Homes leveled. Structures reduced to foundations. Cars become airborne debris.

EF5 – Catastrophic

200+ mph

Total destruction. Well-built homes swept away. Extreme devastation.

If You Are Inside

☐ Go to the lowest level of the building, preferably a basement or storm shelter.

☐ If there is no basement, move to a small interior room like a bathroom, hallway, closet, or interior stairwell.

☐ Stay away from windows, glass doors, garages, porches, and large open rooms.

☐ Put as many walls between you and the outside as possible.

☐ Cover your head and neck with a helmet, thick blanket, pillow, mattress, or heavy coat.

☐ Keep shoes on or nearby in case you have to walk through debris afterward.

☐ Keep your phone charged and volume turned up for warnings.

☐ Bring pets with you if it is safe and quick to do so.

☐ Stay in your safe place until the warning expires or officials say the threat has passed.

If You Are Outside

☐ Get inside a sturdy building immediately if one is nearby.

☐ Do not shelter under trees, bridges, overpasses, picnic shelters, or small sheds.

☐ If lightning is occurring, avoid open fields, metal fences, power poles, water, and isolated tall objects.

☐ If large hail is falling, protect your head and move away from windows, vehicles, and weak structures.

☐ If a tornado is nearby and you cannot reach shelter, get to the lowest nearby spot, such as a ditch or low area.

☐ Lie flat, cover your head and neck, and watch for flooding water if using a ditch.

☐ Do not try to outrun a tornado on foot.

☐ After the storm passes, watch for downed power lines, broken glass, debris, and flooded roads.

If You Are Driving

☐ Do not stop under an overpass. Overpasses can make winds stronger and expose you to flying debris.

☐ If possible, drive to the nearest sturdy building and take shelter inside.

☐ If you cannot reach shelter and a tornado is close, leave the vehicle only if you can safely get to a lower area.

☐ Avoid flooded roads. Turn around, do not drown.

☐ Keep headlights on, slow down, and never drive through water covering the road.

Immediate Safety

☐ Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid if trained.

☐ Call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies.

☐ Watch for downed power lines. Assume all lines are live and stay far away.

☐ If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, leave immediately and call authorities.

☐ Stay out of heavily damaged buildings until they are declared safe.

☐ Be careful of broken glass, sharp debris, nails, and unstable structures.

☐ Wear sturdy shoes, gloves, and protective clothing if moving around debris.

Flooding & Water Hazards

☐ Never walk or drive through flooded areas. Water depth can be misleading.

☐ Floodwater may contain debris, chemicals, or sewage.

☐ Stay away from creeks, drainage ditches, and low-lying areas after heavy rain.

☐ If your home flooded, avoid contact with standing water until it is safe.

Power & Utilities

☐ Report power outages and downed lines to your local utility company.

☐ Use flashlights instead of candles to reduce fire risk.

☐ Only use generators outdoors and far away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

☐ Unplug sensitive electronics if power is unstable.

☐ Avoid turning utilities back on if your home has major damage—wait for professionals.

Documenting Damage

☐ Take clear photos and videos of all damage before cleaning up.

☐ Make a list of damaged items for insurance claims.

☐ Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.

☐ Keep receipts for any repairs or emergency purchases.

Stay Weather Aware

☐ Continue monitoring weather updates for additional storms.

☐ Do not assume the threat is over—multiple rounds of storms are common.

☐ Check on neighbors, especially elderly or vulnerable individuals.

☐ Follow instructions from local officials and emergency management.

Communication & Alerts

☐ Have multiple ways to receive warnings (weather radio, phone alerts, apps)

☐ Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your phone

☐ Keep phones fully charged before storms

☐ Have a portable battery pack or power bank

☐ Establish a family communication plan (who to call, where to meet)

Safe Shelter Preparation

☐ Identify your safest place (basement or interior room)

☐ Clear clutter from your safe area

☐ Keep helmets, blankets, or mattresses nearby for protection

☐ Store sturdy shoes in your safe place

☐ Practice getting to your shelter quickly

Emergency Supplies

☐ Flashlights (one per person)

☐ Extra batteries

☐ First aid kit

☐ Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day)

☐ Non-perishable food

☐ Medications and prescriptions

☐ Multi-tool or basic tools

☐ Work gloves

☐ Hygiene items (wipes, sanitizer, toilet paper)

Home & Vehicle Readiness

☐ Secure outdoor furniture, grills, and loose objects

☐ Park vehicles in a garage or away from trees if possible

☐ Keep gas tank at least half full

☐ Know how to shut off utilities if needed

☐ Close and secure windows and doors before storms arrive

Important Documents

☐ Store IDs, insurance papers, and medical info in a waterproof bag

☐ Keep digital backups of important files

☐ Have emergency contact numbers written down

Pet Preparedness

☐ Bring pets indoors before storms arrive

☐ Keep leashes, carriers, or crates easily accessible

☐ Have pet food and water stored (at least 3 days worth)

☐ Keep vaccination records and vet info available

☐ Ensure pets have ID tags or microchips

☐ Prepare a comfort item (blanket or toy) to reduce stress

☐ Never leave pets outside or tied up during severe weather