Tornado safety: How to prepare

Preparing for a tornado

Tornadoes can be devastating, sometimes claiming lives and causing injuries. There may not be much you can do to prevent tornado damage to your home, but you can help protect your loved ones by being informed with these tornado safety tips.

Pick a tornado safe space

Find a spot everyone can get to quickly or consider a safe room for maximum protection.

• Home with a basement – The basement is often your safest bet if it's not prone to flooding. If possible, choose a space away from windows and under some kind of sturdy protection like a heavy table.
• Building without a basement – Find a space away from windows on the lowest floor possible, like a small, centered room, an interior hallway, bathroom, closet or under a stairwell.
• Mobile home – Find an underground shelter or sturdy permanent structure nearby.

Try to do a practice tornado drill with your family at least once a year. Don't forget to take your pets with you as you practice your plan. Confirm your family knows where to go during a tornado if they're not at home and pick a local place to meet after the storm subsides if you're separated during a tornado.

Create survival and first aid kits

Stow your kits in your safe space. Include things like non-perishable foods, bottled water, flashlight, batteries, phone chargers, first aid supplies and medicines. Consider keeping heavy blankets or an old mattress in your space too, for added protection. Some necessities for your pet might include dry food, medicine, grooming kit, first aid supplies, collar with ID tag, leash and toys.

Secure important documents

Use a fire box, safe or safety deposit box to store things like contact information for family and friends, insurance information, passports, birth certificates, marriage licenses and your family's medication list with dosage amounts.

Create a home inventory and schedule an insurance review

A detailed home inventory can help verify you have the right coverage for your belongings. If you're a homeowner, talk with your insurance agent to check if your home is covered for its replacement cost value.

Tornado watch or warning

Educate your family on the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning, and know what to do during each. Regularly review and see that everyone can spot the warning signs of a tornado which can include:

• Cloud of debris
• Dark or green colored sky
• Funnel shaped cloud
• Large hail
• Loud roaring sounds, like a freight train

Reference this tornado preparedness checklist to help keep your plan on track. When severe weather is on the way, tune in to your NOAA radio station or local news for the latest updates. Learn more helpful information about tornado safety from ready.gov.