Awhile back I had someone who recently moved to Texas from a place that doesn’t really get tornados express that they were confused between Tornado Watches versus Tornado Warnings, so I created a thread on Twitter with a bit of an explainer & what to do when you are under a Watch or a Warning. With a little polishing, here is that explanation all on one page!
A tornado watch means that conditions are right for the possibility that tornados will develop. It’s TIME for you to keep a WATCHFUL eye & do what you can to prepare, just in case. All the ingredients are present for a tornado, they just haven’t combined in a way that makes them.
A tornado WARNING means that either:
- a person (that can be a member of the public, storm spotters, or a law enforcement officer) has visually seen a tornado & reported it
- a funnel cloud (basically a tornado that is just coming out of a cloud bottom & hasn’t reached ground – it may or may not ever touch ground) has been reported
- strong rotation is seen on weather radar
- or a water spout (essentially a tornado over water) is heading for land.
Lots of folks say images like this help them remember which is which!
Cupcake warning: shows a cupcake
So what should you do if your weather person says you are under a tornado watch?
The first thing I usually do, is either put on a pair of sturdy shoes or make sure I know where they are and put them in a place where I can easily grab them in case I need them. You do NOT want to be barefoot in a debris field, especially if you can’t remember the date of your last tetanus shot.
Plug in your cell phone to charge the battery if it’s not full. Your phone is an important tool you can use to get information and communicate with others.
Know where your people are! And pets! If you have kids at home, get them in the house, and get their shoes on or know where they are. Get your pets inside, and if they tend to be scared of bad weather, it may be best to crate them/put them in a carrier now. You don’t want to have to drag a frightened animal out of a hiding place, or try to handle it when it is trying to get to a hiding place.
Decide where the best place to shelter in your house is NOW while you have time to think it over. Ideally, you want a windowless room on the ground floor, in the interior of the house, as close to the center as possible. Put as many walls between you and the outside of the house as possible. If you have a basement, that’s even better, provided that floods are not a danger.
I have a closet under the stairs, & it is probably the best place in my house. All my bathrooms are near the outside edges of my house or on the second story. But I do use my guest half bath when there’s less warning since I don’t have to pull stuff out of it go get inside.
Bathrooms are favored if they are on the ground floor, have no windows, & are near the center of the house. Plus the bathtub makes a good place to duck & cover for protection.
If you have a bike helmet (motor or pedal) or other noggin protecting headgear, it can give an extra bit of help as well, so getting it handy is useful. If a tornado is coming, put it on!
If you have a battery powered radio, get it and make sure the batteries are fresh. Set it in or near your chosen shelter. If you don’t have one, I HIGHLY recommend getting a weather radio that can use batteries or run by hand crank.
If the electricity goes out, you don’t want to be in the dark literally AND figuratively without an idea of how long the storm is going to hang around. Have a flashlight or lantern handy and make sure it is working and you have fresh batteries available. Ask me how I know… embarrassed laugh
If you have a Go Bag, make sure it’s handy as well. See this post for how to start yours.
That’s pretty much it for a Watch. Just continue to monitor your choice of weather persons/station to keep an eye on things.
If you are not at home when a Watch is issued, it might be a good idea to head there if you can make it before the storm arrives. You don’t want to be caught outside or be in a car during a tornado. That’s… not good. You will have a bad day. If you cannot head home, look for a place you can take shelter if needed.
If you live in a mobile home/trailer/RV, you need to decide ahead of time where to go in case of a Warning, before you are in an emergency. You need to go to a building with a foundation or a purpose-built tornado shelter. Even if your trailer is tied/anchored, it’s not safe. See https://youtu.be/HeOsOxecOaw for more information. Please know, this isn’t me hating on mobile homes, BTW. I lived in mobile homes for about half my first 23 years. They can be fine homes, but they are NOT safe in severe weather.
Ok, so you’re prepared, you’re keeping an eye on the sky. You are watching. Now, what if a Warning is issued? First, figure out if the tornado is heading your way or not. Listen or Watch your local weather reporting so you know! Either television or radio.
Does your area have an emergency siren system? Do you know what a siren sounds like? Here’s an example: https://youtu.be/WXsTHg_DiYA
Be aware that emergency sirens are not designed to be heard from within a building although they sometimes can! That’s why it’s important to have some device or devices that you can receive emergency alerts on, such as a weather radio or your cell phone.
While they are commonly called “tornado sirens” they are also sounded in my town and in towns around me in the event of:
- hail bigger than 1.75 inches
- winds in excess of 70mph
- chemical spills
- other state/national emergencies
That’s why your crank/battery radio is so important! You need to know exactly WHAT emergency that siren is warning you of.
Sirens are tested on a regular schedule providing the weather is good. They don’t test unless it’s clear, & they always test at the same time & the same day each month.
If a Warning is issued and a tornado is heading your way, get you & your family into your place of shelter, put on your shoes if you haven’t already, and hold on.
I’ve always heard it’s a good idea to get in the tub & pull a mattress from the bed over you, & I’ve heard people talk about how they did it before. But usually, it’s a twin or a crib mattress. I don’t think I could hoist anything bigger than that & wrangle it into place in the time you have to seek shelter. If I think ahead I do grab the pillows off my bed, but that king size ain’t going in a closet under the stairs.
Keep listening to your radio, so you know when it’s clear & safe to come out. But if the tornado is actually near you, you probably can hear it & nothing else till it’s gone anyway.
Folks often say tornadoes sound like a freight train. I’ve been through a couple & it’s never sounded like that to me, but I have weird ears. Here’s an example of what a tornado sounds like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE8oOfWocVc&t=1s
It always sounds more like lots & lots of wind to me, and some whistling sound. https://youtu.be/3Qu9wR03GVA
BTW: The people filming those videos are storm chasers, not regular humans. DO NOT do the FOOL ASS THING they are doing. They have special dispensation from the trickster gods to be fool ass fools, and bless them for it. They are useful fools who do a great service.
If you make it through mostly intact, keep the fam & pets indoors for now. Take a peek outside & look for downed power lines. DO NOT APPROACH THEM and FFS don’t touch them if they are. Call your local services & report.
Watch for debris on the ground & walk carefully. Don’t go in any collapsed buildings unless you need to rescue someone, in which case I didn’t tell you to do that & you should really call emergency services. But where you safely can, please help your neighbors.
Don’t go feckin’ sightseeing in neighborhoods that get hit. Don’t get in the way with your damn rubbernecking. Just don’t do it.
Tornadoes can be really scary, but the more you know, the more it helps. Don’t make fun of your kids for being scared, ok. Smol Skulleigh was terrified of tornadoes & the jeers Did Not Help. What helped was knowledge!
This is an excellent FAQ for more info: https://spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/index.html
Ok, gonna wrap this up – I hope this was helpful & if you have any questions I will do my best!
PS: Yes, I do unironically love the movie Twister. No, I’ve never watched all of Sharknado.
Skulleigh.com 