Tornado Safety & Response
General reference on recognizing tornado threats, sheltering during one, and responding to the aftermath.
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Tornadoes: a working definition
A tornado, also known as a twister, is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends vertically from the surface of the Earth to the base of a cumulonimbus or, less commonly, cumulus cloud. Tornadoes are often visible…
Read in full →Pre-season tornado preparedness checklist
Tornado preparedness references describe most decisions as being best made before the season, when there is time to think clearly. The list below collects items typically completed once a year — in late winter or early…
Read in full →Enhanced Fujita scale ratings at a glance
The Enhanced Fujita scale (EF-Scale) rates tornado intensity by the severity of damage caused, with wind-speed estimates derived from engineering studies of damage indicators. It replaced the original Fujita scale in…
Read in full →All 30 entries
Foundations
Formation and structure
- Supercell thunderstorms as the parent of strong tornadoes In app
- Tornadogenesis: how a tornado forms In app
- Mesocyclones and storm-scale rotation In app
- Wall clouds: a visual precursor to tornadoes In app
- Funnel clouds: rotation that has not reached the ground In app
Alerts and warnings
- Watch versus warning: the two-tier alert system In app
- Tornado emergencies: the highest alert level In app
- The Storm Prediction Center and convective outlooks In app
- Tornado alert channels compared In app
Geography and climatology
- Tornado Alley: the central plains corridor In app
- Dixie Alley: the southeast's high-risk corridor In app
- Tornado outbreaks and super outbreaks In app
Sheltering
- Mobile and manufactured homes are not safe shelter In app
- Sheltering in a basement during a tornado warning In app
- Using a storm cellar or engineered safe room In app
- Caught in a vehicle during a tornado In app
- Caught outdoors with no nearby shelter In app
- Sheltering in a multi-story building without a basement In app
- Sheltering in schools, public buildings, and large-span structures In app
Companion hazards
- Large hail as a companion hazard In app
Aftermath
- Moving through tornado debris in the aftermath In app
- Downed power lines after a tornado In app
- Casualty triage in a post-tornado mass-casualty event In app
- Post-tornado home and property inspection In app
Preparedness
- Pre-season tornado preparedness checklist Sample ✓
- Tornado go-bag and shelter kit In app
Recognition
- Visual and audible signs of an approaching tornado In app