Tornado Information
Tornado Terminology
Tornadoes can happen abruptly, especially during Michigan’s late spring and early summer seasons. Learn the terms to understand and know what do before, during and after a tornado.
Tornado Terms:
- Tornado: A violently rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach over 200 mph.
- Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio reports, commercial radio and television reports for further information.
- Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar in your area. Take shelter immediately.
- Supercell: A system producing severe thunderstorms, featuring rotating winds sustained by a prolonged updraft that may result in hail or tornadoes.
- Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale: Rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States and Canada. There are six categories for the EF scale and are in order of increasing intensity. *It is a based on wind estimates of a 3 second gust.*
- EF0: Tornadoes with estimated wind speed of 65-85 mph and leads to light damage.
- EF1: Estimated wind speed of 86-110 mph with the potential of moderate damage.
- EF2: Estimated wind speeds of 111-135 mph with significant damage potential.
- EF3: Estimated wind speeds of 136-165 mph with severe damage potential.
- EF4: Estimated wind speeds of 166-200 mph with devastating damage potential.
- EF5: Estimated wind speeds of over 200 mph with incredible damage potential.
Before a Tornado
Tornadoes are known for developing so rapidly that little advanced warning is possible. Average lead time for tornadoes is 10 to 15 minutes, which is why Michigan citizens are encouraged to prepare and make a plan before a tornado strikes. To be ready before a tornado:
- Create an emergency preparedness kit for your home that includes the following items:
- Water, at least three gallons of water per person
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food per person
- Prescribed medications
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Pet supplies
- A complete change of clothing and footwear for each person
- Bedding
- Important family documents
- Extra clothes and blankets
- Develop and implement a family communications plan with family members living in your home so when a tornado strikes, you know how to get to a safe place. Be sure the plan also addresses the following:
- Where you will meet up if separated?
- How you will contact each other?
- What would you do in different situations?
- Listen to your NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information. Listen to instructions given by local emergency management and law enforcement officials.
- Be aware of the danger signs indicating a tornado:
- Dark, often greenish sky
- Large hail
- A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
- Loud roar, similar to a freight train
During a Tornado
With tornadoes having the ability to touch down in a matter of minutes, Michigan citizens need to be prepared to quickly react and launch an emergency plan.
Inside:
- If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately. If there is a tornado watch in your area, monitor local media and seek shelter when thunderstorms approach.
- If you are in a building—like a home, small building, school or business—go to a pre-designated safe room, basement, storm shelter or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of a smaller interior room, such as a closet or hallway, that is away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls.
- Once you are in lower level room of a building, make sure to protect your head and neck.
- Make sure to bring your emergency preparedness kit to your pre-designated safe room to have emergency supplies ready in the event help cannot reach you right away.
- If you live in a mobile home, exit the home and immediately go to a designated storm shelter. Even when mobile homes are tied down, they offer very little protection from a tornado.
- If you are outside during a tornado, the only safe location is a sturdy permanent building. Seek that shelter immediately. Go to the lowest level and seek shelter in an interior room without any windows.
- If you cannot get to a shelter, get to your vehicle and drive to the nearest shelter. If flying debris occurs while driving, pull over and park. Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on, covering your head and lying below the windows.
- DO NOT seek shelter under an overpass or bridge. These are some of the most dangerous locations and you will be exposed to flying debris.
- Stay away from objects that can be easily blown around. Most people injured from tornadoes from flying debris.
- If you are boating, go to land and seek shelter immediately.
After a Tornado
Once a tornado passes through your area, make sure all family members are safe and secure. Afterward, assess damages and stay safe by following the appropriate steps:
- Inspect your property and motor vehicles for damage.
- Write down the date and list the damages for insurances purposes. Take pictures and videos of the damage.
- Check for electrical problems or gas leaks and report them to your local utility company at once.
- Watch out for and stay 25 feet away from downed power lines.
- Stay out of damaged buildings until you are sure they are safe and will not collapse.
- Secure your property from further damage or theft.
- Use only chlorinated or bottled water for drinking. Check on your food supply because if stored in a refrigerator or freezer without power, food will spoil.
- Use the food and water supply in your emergency preparedness kit for your family if power is out.
Tornadoes and Pets
Tornadoes not only put stress on people, but also on family pets. Tornadoes often produce anxiety, fear and a need to escape for pets. Flying debris and high winds can also leave pets susceptible to injury if they are left unprotected outside. Make sure to take preparedness measures for pets before, during and after a tornado.
Preparing your pet for a tornado:
- Create an emergency supply kit for your pet that includes:
- Leash and collar
- Transport carrier
- Food and water (3-5 day supply)
- Any medications
- Vaccination history, rabies certificate
- Waste disposal supplies
- A blanket
- Favorite toy
- Your veterinarian’s contact information
- Special supplies for pets such as birds, pocket pets or reptiles (e.g., heat lamps)
- Make sure pets are current on all vaccinations.
- Develop an evacuation plan for your pets.
- All pets should have some sort of identification, like a collar with a tag and microchip.
- Take a photo of the pet and keep it with the medical records.
- Include any proof of ownership materials, such as registration, proof of purchase, adoption records and microchip information.
- Practice getting the entire family, including your pet, to the tornado safe area before a tornado event occurs.
- Practice learning how to quickly and safely secure your pet in an emergency.
During a tornado:
- Bring your pets inside immediately in advance if possible.
- NEVER leave pets outside and avoid leaving them behind if possible during a tornado watch or warning.
- If there is no other alternative, leave them loose inside your home with food and plenty of water.
- NEVER leave your pet chained outside or enclosed in a way they cannot escape danger.
- If your pet is frightened, reassure them and remain calm.
- Pets should be provided the same cover as humans during severe weather.
- Put all pets into cages or carriers in the safe room when a tornado warning is issued. Animals can sense bad weather and often will look for a place to hide or escape if they sense it’s near.
After a tornado:
- Be aware that a pet’s behavior may change before, during and even after a disaster.
- Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet may become confused and lost.
- In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside.
- Always maintain close contact.
- Reintroduce food in small servings, gradually working up to full portions, especially if animals have been without food for a prolonged period of time.
- Keep your pet away from storm damaged areas. Power lines could be down and dangerous objects can be littered everywhere.
- If you pet is lost and cannot be found after a disaster, contact your local animal control office. Bring along a picture of your pet if possible.
- Source: www.Prep4AgThreats.org
American Red Cross Tornado App
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The American Red Cross Tornado App provides users local and real-time NOAA tornado watch and warning alerts—whether it’s the community where they live or places where friends and loved ones live. It also gives instant access to information on what to do before, during and after tornadoes. The app is free and available in English and Spanish. It’s designed for iPhone, iPad and Android smart phones and tablets. |
- Audible alerts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A high-pitched, siren and “tornado warning!” message will sound when a NOAA tornado warning is issued in a person’s area—even if the app is closed. An “all clear!” alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or been cancelled.
- Location-based NOAA tornado, severe thunderstorm and flood alerts for the entire United States and its territories.
- Social media information sharing options.
- Simple steps and checklists to create a family emergency plan and share with household members;
- Enhanced weather maps and information provided by Weather Underground, a digital brand of The Weather Company;
- Interactive quizzes with badges users can earn and share on social networks;
- Preloaded preparedness content that gives instant access to all information even without mobile connectivity;
- An “I’m safe” button that enables users to send a message letting friends and loved ones know they are out of harm’s way;
- A toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and an audible alarm; and
- Locations of open Red Cross shelters.
- For more information about the Tornado App, go to www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/tornado-app
Do 1 Thing
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Do 1 Thing is a national nonprofit organization that encourages individuals, families, businesses and communities to prepare for all hazards and to become disaster resilient. This award-winning nonprofit is not an awareness program, but a call to action. Their curriculum is based on research into the reasons people don’t prepare and designed to overcome those barriers, including: |
- It’s too hard.
- It’s too expensive.
- It won’t happen here.
- I don’t know where to start.
The basis of the call to action is 12 monthly fact sheets—12 steps—that cover different areas of emergency preparedness. Each fact sheet has a goal and a “what/why” statement that is designed to motivate people to act.
Through community partners, Do 1 Thing curriculum is designed to be turnkey system for any community or organization. Organizations with limited resources can easily incorporate the preparedness materials.
In addition, Do 1 Thing Business is designed to overcome the barriers that keep small and medium-sized organizations from preparing for a disaster. Many small businesses and nonprofits feel that they don't have the resources—time, money or expertise—to create a continuity plan.
To learn more about making your community more resilient, go to www.do1thing.com.