Most important
Ready.gov's recommended shelters are a safe room, a storm shelter, or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. If you live in a mobile home, pick one of those nearby before storm season.
Before
- Know the signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar like a freight train.
- Sign up for your community's warnings and learn your siren tone. A NOAA weather radio sounds an alarm even when phones are quiet.
- Pick and practice your shelter: a safe room built to FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500. Next best is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
- Include pets in the plan, and keep supplies for a long stay at home.
During
- Go to your shelter immediately.
- Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. Cover your head and neck with your arms, and put furniture or blankets around and over you.
- Can't stay home? Go to a public shelter.
- In a car there's no safe option. If the tornado is far away and traffic is light, drive at right angles away from its path. Otherwise park off the road, keep your seat belt on and get your head below the windows. Never shelter under a bridge.
After
- Keep listening to alerts and local officials.
- Stay clear of downed power lines and broken utility lines.
- Wear thick-soled shoes, long pants and gloves for cleanup.
- Text instead of calling, to keep lines open for emergencies.
In your plan
When you tick tornado under "What your area gets", the plan tool adds these to your buying schedule:
- A free step to pick and practice your shelter spot
- A NOAA weather radio moved into the first round of basics
- A shelter flag for mobile homes