Tornadoes
Stay Safe during Severe Storm and Tornado Season
Most tornados occur between March and September, but they can strike at any time, day or night. Stay alert during severe thunderstorms. Watch for a spinning, funnel-shaped cloud or listen for a sound like the roar of a speeding train. Wherever you go, be aware of where you might take shelter. Stay tuned to local radio and television stations for the most updated information. It could save your life.
Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.
A watch means "watch" the sky. Weather conditions are right for tornados.
A warning means a tornado "has been sighted or picked up on radar" -TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
Severe Weather Broadcasts!
Stay tuned to a local radio station or an emergency broadcast station for tornado information - your life may depend on it!
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for severe weather reports or listen to your local radio station.
MOBILE HOME: Even the most securely anchored mobile home is not safe in a tornado. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, leave your mobile home immediately. Move to a nearby permanent shelter or take cover in a ditch or ravine. Do not get under your mobile home or try to outrun the tornado in your car.
ON THE ROAD: If you are caught on the road in a tornado, leave your car immediately. Do not try to drive away from the storm. If you have time, get inside a building. If not, lie flat in a ditch or ravine and cover your head with your arms. Do not take cover inside your car or under your car. Stay tuned to a local radio station or an emergency broadcast station for tornado information - your life may depend on it.
AT HOME: If you are home when a tornado strikes, go to your basement and take cover. If your basement has windows or doors, stay away from the windows and doors. If you do not have a basement, go to an interior room such as a closet or bathroom (a bathroom without windows) that is located on the lowest floor of the home on the lowest floor. It is vital to stay away from windows. Do not take the time to open windows before taking cover. If you live in a mobile home, go outside and lie in a ditch or ravine. Your mobile home is NO MATCH for a tornado!
OUTSIDE: If you're caught outside in a tornado, take cover in a ditch or ravine immediately. Lie flat with your arms over your head. If you can, wrap something around your body such as a blanket or sleeping bag. Do NOT stay in your car or get under your car or camper or go into a grove of trees. Knowing what to do in a tornado can save your life.
LIGHTNING: Lightning can strike from as far as 15 miles away. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, get inside a building or a car. If you must stay outside, keep away from metal, like golf carts, motorcycles, fences, metal lines, power lines, or pipes. Stay below ground level, away from hilltops, open beaches or fields. Most importantly, stay away from open water. Each year lightning kills more Americans than tornados or hurricanes. Most of these deaths happen outside. If you are inside a building, or even a car, your chances of being struck by lightning are slim. Stay on top of weather conditions when planning camping trips, swimming, fishing, or other outdoor activities.
Contact St. Francois County Health Center for additional information OR log on to www.dhss.mo.gov and click on the Ready In 3 logo.
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