Would you know what to do if a tornado warning was issued in your town? Although the majority of tornado activity occurs in the central and southern regions of the country, tornadoes have been reported in every U.S. state. Most occur during late spring and early summer between 3 and 9 p.m., but tornadoes can happen at any time of the year and at any hour – day or night.
“In New Jersey, we’re more familiar with hurricanes, which usually allow a few days for us to prepare prior to landfall,” said Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “Tornadoes are violent, with winds that can exceed 250 miles per hour. Tornadoes can occur quickly with little or no warning. It is crucial to pay attention to any tornado watch or warning when issued.”
Weather forecasters issue a tornado watch when they see weather conditions that might produce a tornado. A watch means that tornadoes are possible, even though the weather may be calm and bright, and it can be issued several hours before a warning. In other words, a watch means you should ‘be prepared.’
Weather forecasters issue a tornado warning when they see rotating winds on radar or get a report that a tornado has been spotted. A tornado warning usually comes only a short time before the tornado strikes (13 minutes, on average), and sometimes tornadoes develop without any detection, in which case there is no official warning before touchdown. That’s why it’s important to ‘be prepared’ when a watch is issued, so it’s easier to ‘take action’ getting to a safety spot inside as fast as you can in case there isn’t a lot of time to do so.
When a tornado is seen in your area, get to an underground storm shelter, basement or specially built safe room immediately. If these are not available, the safest alternative is an interior room without windows, like a closet or bathroom, on the lowest floor of your home.
Once in the safest possible place, if a tornado is close by, kneel down and bend over as tight as a ball, with your hands over your head to protect yourself from things blown around by the wind. Stay in this position until the tornado goes away.
You can also receive weather alerts on your smartphone. Download the free Red Cross EMERGENCY App which, in addition to weather alerts, includes safety information about what to do before, during and after a tornado.
For more information about what to do to help you and your family be prepared for all types of storms and emergencies, including free tools and resources, visit redcross.org/prepare.
