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Tornado safety tips: How to stay safe during a tornado warning

Get safety tips on what do before and during tornadoes.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Tornadoes can bring widespread property damage, put families in harm's way and change the lives in the communities they hit. In 2023, there were 241 confirmed tornadoes in June alone, according to Disaster Philanthropy.

In North Carolina, we've seen how devastating tornadoes can be.

In July 2023, an EF3 tornado spun through parts of Nash and Edgecombe counties, causing major damage at a Pfizer plant and leading to 16 confirmed injuries. Many remember the April 2011 tornado outbreak that came to be the greatest one-day total on record for the state.

All of that is to say it's important to get out ahead of a tornado and prepare for a potentially life-threatening situation. Tornado season generally gets active around the start of spring when temperatures warm up.

Here are three key points to remember when thinking of tornado safety.

Tornado safety tips

Seek shelter in a substantial building.

In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement, bathroom or closet.

If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, and get under a sturdy piece of furniture.

In a large building such as a shopping center, go to the designated shelter area, or to a small reinforced area within the building, such as a restroom. Avoid areas with a large roof expanse, as large roofs collapse under the stress of a tornado or downburst winds.

Take it seriously and take shelter

There is no guaranteed safety during a tornado. That's why tornado warnings should be taken seriously, even if there's only a possibility. Since tornadoes spring up suddenly and without much warning time, it's critical that you follow precautions.

And of course, you should take shelter immediately if a tornado warning is issued.

Stay away from windows

Opening windows to your home during a tornado, formerly a common practice, is not recommended. At the same time, an exploding window can injure or kill. It's best to avoid windows altogether and not waste precious time worrying about them.

If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a low spot like a ditch or culvert. You want to get as low as possible to protect yourself from all of the flying debris in a tornado. Protect your head with your hands.

What if I'm in a car?

If in you're in a vehicle and threatened by a tornado, abandon your vehicle and seek shelter in a substantial structure or in a ditch. Never try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Tornadoes do not travel in straight lines, and it can be very difficult to determine what direction the tornado is moving.

Go inside! Seek shelter inside a sturdy building.
Get to the lowest level of the building and avoid windows.
Abandon cars and mobile homes in favor of sturdier shelter.

Also never seek shelter from a tornado under an overpass. There is no safe place under an overpass. In fact, seeking shelter under an overpass puts you more at risk from violent winds and flying debris.

Be aware of flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned. Go to a reinforced shelter immediately.

Tornado watch vs. warning

A tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for tornado formation. A warning means a tornado has been spotted or a radar has indicated a tornado.

A tornado warning means a thunderstorm could produce a tornado at any moment. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop.

Take shelter in the lowest level of a home or building, away from windows, during a warning. During a tornado watch, make sure you are watching WRAL News or have access to alerts.

Any tornado warning in the area will mean WRAL News will be on-air on digital channel 5.1, WRAL News + and on the WRAL News app. You can also hear us on the radio on 101.5 FM. You can activate notifications on the WRAL app to be the first to know when a tornado warning has been issued.

"If we are under a tornado warning, you can bet someone from the WRAL Severe Weather Team will be live on WRAL," said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth. "Take your phone with you when you get to your safe spot so that you can watch our coverage on the WRAL News App."

"When thunder roars, go indoors"

A good rule of thumb to follow is that if you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning and that's the best time to head inside, even though it may not be raining at the moment.

"If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning," Wilmoth said. "I've seen it many many times. We can have lightning strike several miles away from the actual rain. My daughter plays soccer and she's had coaches that let them play during thunder if it sounds far away. I always go to the coach and tell them that this isn't safe. The kids have to get to a shelter if they can hear thunder."

Get to the lowest level of the building

"The number one thing everyone needs to remember when under a tornado warning is to get to the lowest level of the building that you are in," said Wilmoth.

A location like the center of a basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a house offers the greatest safety. A center hallway, bathroom or closest are also good options.

A map outlines the safest area of a home to take shelter in during a tornado.

If reaching a low level isn't possible, try to get under a door frame or get up against something like a counter that will shield you from falling debris.

Put as many walls between you and the outdoors as possible

Get to the center of whatever structure you're in to put the most distance between you and the outdoors.

If you live in a mobile home, don't stay there. Go to another building nearby. Most mobile homes cannot withstand tornado-strength winds.

Avoid windows

An exploding window can injure or kill. Pick a windowless room to take shelter in. Previous messaging in past eras advised to open windows to relieve pressure inside a home, but that is no longer widely suggested.

It's also a good idea to avoid rooms with heavy objects that could fall over, such as refrigerators or entertainment centers.

Create a tornado emergency kit

You can build an emergency preparedness kit for tornado situations.

  • Unused batteries and battery-operated TV, radio, bottled water, personal hygiene items and non-perishable food
  • Instructions for a tornado emergency plan
  • Pack extra clothes for each family member
  • Have a first aid kit handy
  • A list of important contact information, including phone numbers
The National Weather Service has more guidance about building a kit here.

Protect your head

If you have time to grab something that can protect your head during a tornado warning - like a helmet or a pillow - it's a really good idea to protect your head if there is a tornado close to your location.

Have a tornado drill at school, work and home

During severe weather preparedness week, many offices and school districts will plan a tornado drill. For schools, this sometimes means students go to a hallway and take cover against a wall, an important exercise in getting them comfortable with preparing. Students should stay away from areas like cafeterias, gyms, or auditoriums in these situations because they are less likely to withstand pressure from tornadoes.

You can conduct a family tornado drill and find the best place to take cover in your home.

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