Tornado Safety
When a tornado is coming you may have only moments to make a life or death decision. Advance planning is the key to surviving a tornado.
Learn the warning signs of an approaching tornado.
• Bad thunderstorms - thunder, lighting, hard rain, strong winds.
• A dark or green-colored sky.
• Hail - bullets of ice from a dark cloudy sky.
• Roaring noise - like ten jet planes or a hundred railroad trains.
Tornado Watch - means conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop.
Tornado Warning - means a tornado has been spotted in the area. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!
Who is most at risk?
• People in automobiles.
• The elderly, the very young, and the physically or mentally impaired.
• People in mobile homes.
• People who may not understand the warning due to a language barrier.
Safest Shelter Locations
• Basements.
• Ground floor center rooms, with no windows.
• Ground floor hallways with no windows or glass display cases.
Things to Avoid
• Wide expanse ceilings (avoid auditoriums, cafeterias, large conference areas and gymnasiums). A long span building, such as a shopping mall, theater, or gymnasium is especially dangerous because the roof structure in usually supported solely by the outside walls. Most such buildings hit by tornadoes cannot withstand the enormous pressure. They simply collapse. If there is no time to get to a tornado shelter or to a lower level, try to get under a door frame or get up against something that will support or deflect falling debris.
• Avoid areas with large amounts of debris.
• Large open areas.
• Windows and display cases.
• Do not use elevators because the power may fail, leaving you trapped.
Tornado Facts
• A tornado is an extremely destructive and violent whirlwind, which forms at the base of thunderclouds and reaches the ground. Tornadoes can last anywhere from a few minutes to almost one hour.
• Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year. The peak time of year for tornadoes in Michigan is May through August. Tornadoes almost always require hot and humid weather.
• Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m. but have been known to occur at all hours of the day or night.
• The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed is 30 m.p.h. but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 m.p.h.
Home Safety Tips
• Stay Calm.
• Seek Shelter Immediately.
• Designate an area in your home as a shelter and practice having everyone in the family take shelter there. (If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.)
• Have disaster supplies on hand.
• Flashlight with extra batteries.
• Portable battery-operated radio with extra batteries.
• First aid kit and manual.
• Emergency food and water (a 3-day supply of water [one gallon per person per day] and food that won't spoil.) Replace stored food and water every six months.
• Non-electric can opener.
• Essential medicines.
• Cash and credit cards, and an extra set of car keys.
• One change of clothing per person.
• One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
• Avoid candles, gas lanterns and oil lamps - these increase the fire danger.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
For more information on tornadoes and tornadoes safety please view these sites.
Isabella County, Michigan - Emergency Management