Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes,

Lightning...

A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety Information for Schools

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Weather Service

...Nature’s Most Violent Storms
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

Introduction

For Americans, preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is 

an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when 

seconds count. 

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing an emergency plan, are the 

same for both a natural or man-made emergency. 

This preparedness guide explains thunderstorms and related hazards and 

suggests life-saving actions YOU can take. With this information, YOU can 

recognize severe weather, develop a plan, and be ready to act when threatening weather approaches. Remember, your safety, and the safety of those 

in your care, is up to YOU!

Why Worry About Thunderstorms? 

Lightning...

	 ■	 Causes an average of 55-60 fatalities and 400 injuries each year

	 ■	 Occurs with all thunderstorms

	 ■	 Costs more than $1 billion in insured losses each year

Tornadoes...

	 ■	 Cause an average of 60-65 fatalities and 1,500 injuries each year

	 ■	 Can produce wind speeds in excess of 200 mph

	 ■	 Can be 1 mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles

Straight-line Winds...

	 ■	 Can exceed 125 mph

	 ■	 Can cause destruction equal to a tornado

	 ■	 Are extremely dangerous to aviation

Flash Floods and Floods...

	 ■	 Are the #1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms, more

	 	 than 90 fatalities each year

Hail...

	 ■	 Can be larger than a softball (5 inches in diameter)

	 ■	 Causes more than $1 billion in crop and property damage

 each year

1
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

Thunderstorms

A thunderstorm affects a relatively small area when compared to a hurricane or a winter storm. The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in

diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes. Despite their small size,

ALL thunderstorms are dangerous! Of the estimated 100,000 thunderstorms that occur each year in the United States, about 10 percent are

classified as severe. 

What Are Thunderstorms? What Causes Them?

Every Thunderstorm Needs:

	 ■	 Moisture—to form clouds and rain

	 ■	 Unstable air—warm air that can rise rapidly

	 ■	 Lift—caused by cold or warm fronts, sea breezes, 

 mountains, or the sun’s heat 

The Thunderstorm Life Cycle

The National Weather 

Service considers a 

thunderstorm severe if it 

produces hail at least one 

inch in diameter, winds of 

58 mph or stronger, or 

a tornado.

Developing Stage

■	 Towering cumulus cloud	

indicates rising air

■	 Usually little if any rain	

during this stage

■	 Lasts about 10 minutes

■	 Occasional lightning

Mature Stage

■	 Most likely time for hail, heavy

rain, frequent lightning, strong

winds, and tornadoes

■	 Storm occasionally has a black

or dark green appearance

■	 Lasts an average of 10 to

20 minutes but some storms

may last much longer

Dissipating Stage

■	 Downdrafts, downward flowing

air, dominate the storm

■	 Rainfall decreases in intensity

■	 Can still produce a burst of

strong winds

■	 Lightning remains a danger

2

1,800 thunderstorms 

occur at any moment 

around the world. 

That’s 16 million a year!
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

Tornadoes 

Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, they are found most frequently in the United States. In an average year, 1,200 tornadoes

cause 60-65 fatalities and 1,500 injuries nationwide. You can find more

information on tornadoes at www.spc.noaa.gov.

Tornado Facts

	 ■	 A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a 	 	

cumuliform cloud, such as a thunderstorm, to the ground.

	 ■	 Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris

are picked up or a cloud forms within the funnel. The average 

tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes can 

move in any direction and can suddenly change their direction 

of motion.

	 ■	 The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph but may vary 		

	 from nearly stationary to 70 mph.

	 ■	 The strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more

	 than 200 mph.

	 ■	 Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as

they move onto land.

	 ■	 Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over warm water. Water	 	

spouts can move onshore and cause damage to coastal areas.

Be Ready Year Round

	 ■	 Tornadoes can occur at any time of day, any day of the year.

■	 Have a plan of action before severe weather threatens. You need 		

	 to respond quickly when a warning is issued or a tornado is spotted.

	 ■	 When conditions are warm, humid, and windy, or skies are threat-	

ening, monitor for severe weather watches and warnings by listen-

	 ing to NOAA Weather Radio, logging onto weather.gov or tuning 

into your favorite television or radio weather information source. 

The Enhanced Fujita Scale

The National Weather Service (NWS) uses the EF-Scale to assign a tornado

a ‘rating’ based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. 

EF- SCALE

EF RATING 3 Second Wind Gust (mph)

0 65-85

1 86-110

2 111-135

3 136-165

4 166-200

5 Over 200

3
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

How Tornadoes Form

Before thunderstorms develop, winds 

change direction and increase in 

speed with altitude. This creates an 

invisible, horizontal spinning effect in 

the lower atmosphere.

Rising air within the thunderstorm 

updraft tilts the rotating air from 

horizontal to vertical.

An area of rotation, 2-6 miles wide,

now extends through much of the 

storm. Most tornadoes form within

this area of strong rotation.

Weak Tornadoes

■	 88% of all tornadoes

■	 Less than 5% of tornado deaths

■	 Lifetime 1 – 10+ minutes

■	 Winds less than 110 mph

■	 Produces EF0 or EF1 damage

Strong Tornadoes

■	 11% of all tornadoes

■	 Nearly 30% of all tornado deaths

■	 May last 20 minutes or longer

■	 Winds 111-165 mph

■	 Produces EF2 or EF3 damage

Violent Tornadoes

■	 Less than 1% of all tornadoes

■	 70% of all tornado deaths

■	 Can exceed 1 hour

■	 Winds greater than 166 mph

■	 Produces EF4 or EF5 damage

4

Chuck Doswell III

Wikimedia/Justin Hobson

Wikimedia/Joshua Jans

More detailed information on the EF-Scale can found at:

www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

Weather Radar Watches the Sky

TThe NWS has a Doppler radar network strategically located across the 

country that can detect air movement toward or away from the radar. Early detection of increasing rotation aloft within a thunderstorm can allow lifesaving warnings to be issued before the tornado forms. In Figure 1 Weather

Service Doppler radar detected strong rotation within the storm where red

colors (winds moving away from the radar) and green (winds blowing toward

the radar) are close together. Figure 2 reveals the “hook echo” that appreared

in the radar’s reflectivity data. Figure 3 shows a violent tornado in northern

Oklahoma at the same time the radar image was taken.

Tornado Fiction and Fact

FICTION: Lakes, rivers, and mountains protect areas from tornadoes.

FACT: No geographic location is safe from tornadoes. A tornado near 

Yellowstone National Park left a path of destruction up and down

a 10,000 foot mountain.

FICTION:	 A tornado causes buildings to “explode” as the tornado passes

overhead.

FACT: Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause the most 

structural damage.

FICTION:	 Open windows before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure 

and minimize damage.

FACT: Virtually all buildings leak. Leave the windows closed. Take shelter 

immediately. An underground shelter, basement or safe room are 

the safest places. If none of those options are available, go to a

windowless interior room or hallway.

FICTION: Highway overpasses provide safe shelter from tornadoes.

FACT: The area under a highway overpass is very dangerous in a tornado. If you are in a vehicle, you should immediately seek shelter

in a sturdy building. As a last resort, you can either: stay in the 

car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows,

covering with your hands and a blanket if possible, OR if you can

safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your 

car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Your

choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.

FICTION:	 It is safe to take shelter in the bathroom, hallway, or closet of a

mobile home.

FACT: Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes! Abandon your

mobile home to seek shelter in a sturdy building immediately. If

you live in a mobile home, ensure you have a plan in place that 

identifies the closest sturdy buildings. 

Answers to frequently asked questions about tornadoes can be found at:

www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/index.html

5

NOAA/Brian Bill

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

Lightning

What Causes Lightning

The rising air in a thunderstorm cloud causes various types of frozen precipitation to form within the cloud. Included in these precipitation types are

very small ice crystals and much larger pellets of snow and ice. The smaller 

ice crystals are carried upward toward the top of the clouds by the rising air 

while the heavier and denser pellets are either suspended by the rising air 

or start falling toward the ground. Collisions occur between the ice crystals

and the pellets, and these collisions serve as the charging mechanism of the 

thunderstorm. The small ice crystals become positively charged while the pellets become negatively charged. As a result, the top of the cloud becomes 

positively charged and the middle to lower part of the storm becomes negatively charged. At the same time, the ground underneath the cloud becomes 

charged oppositely of the charges directly overhead.

When the charge difference between the ground and the cloud becomes too 

large, a conductive channel of air develops between the cloud and the ground, 

and a small amount of charge (step leader) starts moving toward the ground. 

When it nears the ground, an upward leader of opposite charge connects with 

the step leader. At the instant this connection is made, a powerful discharge 

occurs between the cloud and the ground. We see this discharge as a bright 

visible flash of lightning.

Lightning Facts

	 ■	 There is no safe place outdoors when a thunderstorm is nearby.

	 ■	 The vast majority of lightning victims were going to a safe place but

waited too long before seeking safe shelter.

	 ■	 More than 80% of lightning fatality victims are male, typically between 

	 the ages of 15 and 40.

	 ■	 Lightning fatalities are most common during summer afternoons and

evenings.

	 ■	 The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for

more than 3 months.

	 ■	 Many wildfires in the western United States and Alaska are ignited by

lightning.

	 ■	 The channel of air through which lightning passes can be heated to

	 50,000°F—hotter than the surface of the sun! The rapid heating and 

cooling of the air near the lightning channel causes a shock wave that 

results in the sound we know as “thunder.”

6

Johnny Autery
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

How Far Away Is the Lightning?

	 ■	 Count the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the

sound of the resulting thunder.

	 ■	 Divide this number by 5 to get an estimate of the distance in miles to

the lightning strike.

	 ■	 Remember, if you are outdoors and can hear thunder, you are in 	 	

danger of being struck by lightning. 

Almost all lightning deaths have occurred outdoors. In 

recent years, fatal activities have included:

■	 boating	 ■	 standing under a tree	

■	 riding horses	 ■	 swimming

■	 riding on a lawnmower	 ■	 playing sports	

■	 golfing ■	 watching the storm	

■	 walking	 ■	 loading a truck	

■	 mountain climbing	 ■	 fishing

■	 camping	 ■	 running to shelter

Lightning Fiction and Fact

FICTION:	 If it is not raining, then there is no danger from lightning.

FACT: Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far 

as 10 miles away from any rainfall. This is especially true in the

western United States where thunderstorms sometimes produce 

very little rain.

FICTION: The rubber soles of shoes or rubber tires on a car will protect you 

from being struck by lightning.

FACT: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from

lightning. The steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you 

may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer

inside a vehicle than outside.

FICTION:	 People struck by lightning should not be touched because they

carry an electrical charge.

FACT: Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be 

helped immediately. Anyone who has been hit by lightning requires immediate professional medical care. Call 9-1-1 and begin

CPR immediately if the person has stopped breathing. Use an

Automatic External Defibrillator if one is available. Contact your

local American Red Cross chapter for information on CPR and

first aid classes.

FICTION:	 “Heat lightning” occurs after very hot summer days and poses

no threat.

FACT: “Heat lightning” is a term used to describe lightning from a

thunderstorm too far away for the thunder to be heard.

7

U.S. Air Force/Cherie A. Thurlby

When 

Thunder 

Roars, Go 

Indoors!
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

Straight-Line Winds

	 ■	 Straight-line winds are any winds not associated with the rotation of

a tornado. Straight-line winds are responsible for most thunder 

storm wind damage. 

	 ■	 Straight-line winds can exceed 125 mph!

	 ■	 A downburst is a small area of rapidly descending air beneath

	 a thunderstorm (see center of photographs above).

	 ■	 A downburst can cause damage equivalent to a strong tornado 	 	

	 (tree damage in photo to the right) and can be extremely hazardous

to aviation.

	 ■	 A “dry microburst” is a downburst that occurs with little or no rain.		

These destructive winds are most common in the western 

	 United States and are a hazard that wildfire crews watch-out for.

Flash Floods and Floods

	 ■	 A flash flood occurs within a few hours (usually less than 6 hours)

of heavy or excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or the sudden 

	 release of water impounded by an ice jam.

	 ■	 A flood is the inundation of a normally dry area caused by abnor-

	 mal high water flow. Floods develop more slowly than flash floods,

	 normally greater than 6 hours.

	 ■	 Flash floods and floods are the #1 cause of deaths associated with

	 thunderstorms, more than 90 fatalities each year.	

	 ■	 More than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle

	 is driven into hazardous flood water.

—TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN! 

	 ■	 Many flash flood fatalities occur at night.

	 ■	 Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet.

	 ■	 Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including 

SUVs and pickups. 

For more information, refer to the “Floods...The Awesome Power” at

weather.gov/os/brochures.shtml

8

NOAA/Bill Bunting

USGS
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

Hail 

■	 Strong rising currents of air within a storm, called updrafts, carry water droplets to a height where they freeze.

■	 Ice particles grow in size, becoming too heavy to be supported by the

updraft, and fall to the ground.

■	 Hail is larger than sleet, and forms only 

in thunderstorms.

■	 Large hailstones can fall at speeds faster than 

100 mph!

■	 The largest hailstone ever recovered in the 

United States was a 7 inch wide chunk of ice that 

landed in Aurora, Nebraska, in June 2003. 

■	 An accurate weight could not be determined for 

the Aurora hailstone. A 1970 Coffeyville, Kansas,

hailstone weighing 1.67 pounds with a 5.7 inch

diameter remains the heaviest hailstone weighed 

and verified in the United States.

The Aurora, Nebraska 

record hailstone 

9

From Tornadoes People who are in mobile 

homes or outdoors.

From Lightning

People who are outdoors, or

anyone who stays outdoors when 

thunderstorms are nearby.

From Flash Flooding

People who walk or drive

through flood waters.

From Large Hail

People who are

caught outdoors.

Who’s Most At-Risk

From Thunderstorms? 

This map depicts the average number of days 

with thunderstorms each 

year. Florida has more 

days with thunderstorms 

than any other state.
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

Be Prepared

It’s Up to YOU!

Each year, many people are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes andsevere thunderstorms despite advance warning. Some did not hear the 

warning; others heard the warning but did not believe it would happen to 

them. The following preparedness information, combined with timely severe 

weather watches and warnings, may save your life. If you hear a warning or

observe threatening skies, only YOU can make the decision to seek safety. 

This could be the most important decision you will ever make.

What YOU Can Do Before Severe Weather Strikes

Develop a plan for you and your family at home, work, school, and when

outdoors. The American Red Cross offers tips at: www.redcross.org, and 

the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at: www.ready.gov

Practice Your Plan

■ Know the risk for the area in which you live or visit. NWS warnings 

identify locations in the path of approaching severe weather. 

■ Have a Public AlertTM certified NOAA Weather Radio and battery backup to receive warnings.

■ Discuss thunderstorm safety with all members of your household. 

■ NWS watches and warnings are available on the Internet. Select and

bookmark your local NWS office from www.weather.gov.

■ Keep in mind that even though the weather may be calm at the time a 

Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Warning is issued for your 

area, conditions can rapidly deteriorate and become life threatening. 

Always heed warnings even if warnings issued for your area in the past 

did not result in severe weather. Don’t gamble with your life.

■ Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms can and do occur at any location, 

anytime of day or night, and anytime of year given the right atmospheric 

conditions. 

■ Tune into your favorite radio or television weather information source for 

severe weather watch and warning information.

■ If severe weather threatens, check on people who are elderly, very

young, or physically or mentally disabled.

■ Having a safe room in your home or small business can help provide 

“near-absolute protection” for you and your family or your employees

from injury or death caused by extreme winds. By near-absolute

protection we mean that there is a very high probability the occupants 

of a safe room built according to current guidance will avoid injury

or death. Information on how to build a Safe Room (shown in the

photo at right) in your home or school is available from FEMA at:

www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/saferoom/fema320.shtm 

10

FEMA

Tom Warner
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

When Dangerous Weather Approaches

Avoid the Lightning Threat

■	 Have a lightning safety plan. Know where you’ll go for safety and 

how much time it will take to get there. Make sure your plan allows

enough time to reach safety.

■	 Postpone activities. Before going outdoors, check the forecast for 

thunderstorms. Consider postponing activities to avoid being caught

in a dangerous situation.

■	 Monitor the weather. Look for signs of a developing thunderstorm 

such as darkening skies, flashes of lightning, or increasing wind.

■	 Get to a safe place. If you hear thunder, even a distant rumble,

immediately move to a safe place. When Thunder Roars, Go 

Indoors! Fully enclosed buildings with wiring and plumbing provide 

the best protection. Sheds, picnic shelters, tents or covered porches 

do not protect you from lightning. If a sturdy building is not nearby,

get into a hard-topped metal vehicle and close all the windows. Stay 

inside until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.

■	 If you hear thunder, don’t use a corded phone. Cordless phones, 

cell phones and other wireless handheld devices are safe to use.

■	 Keep away from electrical equipment, wiring and water pipes.

Sensitive electronics should be unplugged well in advance of

thunderstorms. Don’t take a bath, shower or use other plumbing

during a thunderstorm.

When Caught Outside During Thunder 

There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm. Plan ahead to avoid

this dangerous situation! If you’re outside and hear thunder, the only way

to significantly reduce your risk of becoming a lightning casualty is to get

inside a substantial building or hard-topped metal vehicle as fast as you can. 

Remember, there is no substitute for getting to a safe place. 

■	 Avoid open areas and stay away from isolated tall trees, towers, 

or utility poles. Do not be the tallest object in the area. Lightning

tends to strike the tallest objects in the area.

■	 Stay away from metal conductors such as wires or fences.

Metal does not attract lightning, but lightning can travel long distances 

through it.

For more information on lightning safety, please visit: 

www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

Remember, if you can hear thunder – 

you are close enough to be struck 

by lightning!

11
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

Tornado Safety Rules

■	 The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or

safe room. 

■	 If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless

interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the 

safest alternative.

■	 Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes

and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately.

■	 If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy

building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter: 

■	 Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive

to the closest sturdy shelter.

■	 If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now

you have the following options as a last resort:

■	 Stay in your vehicle with the seat belt on. Put your head down 

below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if 

possible. 

■	 If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the 

roadway, exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head 

with your hands. 

■	 Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances

Flash Flood Safety Rules

■	Avoid driving, walking, or swimming in flood waters.

■	Stay away from high water, storm

drains, ditches, ravines, or culverts. 

Even moving water only six inches 

deep can knock you off your feet. 

Move to higher ground.

■	Do not let children play near storm

drains.

■ If you come upon a flooded roadway

never drive through it. 

TURN AROUND 

DON’T DROWN!!!

For more information on 

flood safety, please visit: 

www.floodsafety.noaa.gov

12

USGS/Don Becker

Brian Peters

Occasionally tornadoes 

develop so rapidly that 

advance warning is not 

possible. Remain alert for signs 

of an approaching tornado 

such as a dark, often greenish 

sky, large hail, or a loud roar 

similar to a freight train. 
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

Tornado Safety in Schools

Every School Should Have a Plan

■	 Develop a severe weather safety plan that ensures everyone will take

cover within 60 seconds. Conduct frequent tornado drills. Include

provisions for all after-hours, school-related activities.

■	 Every school should be inspected and tornado shelter areas designated

by a registered engineer or architect. Rooms with exterior walls should 

never be used as tornado shelters. 

■	 Basements offer the best protection. Schools without basements

should use interior rooms and hallways on the lowest floor, away from

windows. 

■	 Delay lunches or assemblies in large rooms if severe weather

is anticipated. Rooms with large roof spans (e.g., gymnasiums,

cafeterias, and auditoriums) offer little or no protection from

tornado-strength winds.

■	 Ensure students and staff know the protective position (shown below). 

Everyone should sit facing an interior wall, elbows to knees, and with 

hands over the back of their heads.

■	 Each school should have a NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup. Remember, the NWS issues a Tornado Watch when conditions 

are favorable for tornado development and a Tornado Warning when a 

tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar. 

■	 If the school’s alarm system relies on electricity, have an alternative

method to notify teachers and students in case of power failure.

■	 Make special provisions for faculty and students with disabilities, those

in portable classrooms, and those outdoors. They should be notified

first of approaching severe weather. 

■	 Keep children at school beyond regular hours during aTornado Warning. 

School bus drivers should identify protective areas along each part of 

their route where they and their passengers can take cover if overtaken 

by a tornado or high winds.

■	 Include properly designed tornado

shelters when planning additions or 

new school buildings.

Hospitals, nursing 

homes, and other 

institutions should 

develop similar severe 

weather safety plans.

= “BEST AVAILABLE” Tornado Shelter

Meadowlawn Elementary

N

13

American Red Cross
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

Stay Informed with NOAA Weather 

Radio All Hazards

The NWS continuously broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts and other non-weather related hazard information on NOAA Weather Radio All

Hazards (NWR). The average range of the 1000+ NWR transmitters in the

United States is 40 miles, depending on topography. For the best performing

NWR receivers, NWS suggests that you look at devices that have been certified

to PublicAlertTM standards. These radios meet certain technical standards and

come with many features such as: Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME),

a battery back-up, both audio and visual alarms, selective programming for the 

types of hazards you want to be warned for, and the ability to activate external 

alarm devices for people with disabilities. Like a smoke detector, an NWR can 

wake you in the middle of the night to alert you to a dangerous situation.

When conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, a Severe 

Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch is typically issued. NWS meteorologists 

then use information from weather radar, Skywarn® spotters and 

other sources to issue Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings 

for areas where severe weather is imminent. Severe Thunderstorm 

and Tornado Warnings are disseminated through a variety of means, 

such as local radio and television station broadcasts, the Internet, and

other communication services provided by America’s Weather Industry.

Warnings are also broadcast in the impacted area on NWR. Local emergency 

management and other public safety officials are notified because they lead

your community’s response to the hazard. 

Working with our nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS), NWR is truly an

“all hazards” radio network, making it a great source for comprehensive

weather and emergency information. Please visit www.weather.gov/nwr for 

more information.

What to Listen for...

Tornado Watch—NWS meteorologists have determined that tornadoes are 

possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. Know if your 

location is in the watch area by listening to NOAA Weather Radio, visiting

www.weather.gov or by tuning into your favorite radio or television weather 

information broadcast stations.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch—NWS meteorologists have determined that 

severe thunderstorms are likely to occur in your area. Watch the sky and stay 

tuned for NWS warnings.

Tornado Warning—NWS meteorologists have determined that a tornado is 

occurring, or likely to occur within minutes, in the specified area. Warnings

indicate imminent danger to life and property. 

Severe Thunderstorm Warning—NWS meteorologists have determined 

that a severe thunderstorm is occurring or likely to occur. Warnings indicate 

imminent danger to life and property.

The NWS, FEMA and the American Red Cross work to inform community

officials and the public about the dangers posed by tornadoes and severe

thunderstorms. You can prepare for the possibility of tornadoes or severe

thunderstorms by learning the safest places to seek shelter when at home, 

work, school, or outdoors. Learn how to monitor and prepare for severe 

weather so that YOU can make better decisions when needed most!

14

NWS Outlook = Get Ready 

NWS Watch = Get Set

NWS Warning = STOP what

you are doing and take action!

Severe thunderstorm outlooks are 

created by the Storm Prediction Center: 

www.spc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlook/

For the latest hazardous weather 

outlooks, please visit your local NWS 

Weather Forecast Office web site. 

. 
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

MAKE a PLAN

Everyone needs to prepare for the hazards that could affect their area. FEMA, the American Red Cross and the NWS urge every household to

develop an emergency plan.

Where will your family and friends be when disaster strikes? They could be 

anywhere—at work, at school, or in the car. How will you find each other?

Will you know if your children are safe? Disaster may force you to evacuate

your neighborhood or keep you in your home. What would you do if basic 

services such as water, gas, electricity, or telephones were cut off?

Develop an Emergency Plan: 

Know Your Risk

	 Gather information about hazards. Contact your local emergency

management office,American Red Cross chapter and National Weather

Service office. Find out what types of disaster could occur and how

best to respond and protect yourself. Learn your community’s warning 

signals and evacuation plans. FEMA has information about how to

prepare for different hazards at: www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm

Have a Plan

Discuss the information you have gathered and what you need to do

to prepare for and respond to different emergencies. Pick two places

to meet in case you are separated: 

	 ■	 A spot outside your home for an emergency, such as fire,

	 ■	 A location away from your neighborhood in case you can’t

return home. 

	 Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person as your “family 	 	

check-in contact” for everyone to call if you get separated. Discuss 		

what you would do if advised to evacuate. No matter where you are 

located, FEMA can help you create an effective emergency plan at:

www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html

Be Prepared

■ Post emergency telephone numbers by phones and in cell phones.

■ Install safety features in your house, such as smoke alarms and fire

extinguishers. 

■ Inspect your home for potential hazards (such as items that can 	 	

	 move, fall, break, or catch fire) and correct them.

■ Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and 		

	 first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn

off water, gas, and electricity in your home. 

■ Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local emergency 

medical services number.

Before the 

Storm...

Know your risk,

Have a plan,

Be prepared

and

Practice and 

maintain your 

plan!

15
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

■ Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at

least 3 days. Assemble an emergency supply kit with items 

you may need if evacuated. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy- 

	 to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. Keep 	 	

important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a 

smaller emergency supply kit in your vehicle.

EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT

Assemble the following items to create kits for use at home, the office, at

school and in your vehicle:

	 ■	 Water—1 gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation 		

	 and 2 week supply for home)

	 ■	 Food—a 3-day supply of non-perishable food for evacuation, 	 	

	 2-week supply for home

	 ■	 Battery-powered or hand crank radio, and a “Public Alert Certified”

	 NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries for both

	 ■	 Items for infants—including formula, diapers, bottles, pacifiers, 	 	

	 powdered milk and medications not requiring refrigeration

	 ■	 Items for seniors, people with disabilities and anyone with medical

needs—including special foods, denture items, extra eyeglasses, 

hearing aid batteries, prescription and non-prescription medications 

	 that are regularly used, inhalers and other essential equipment

	 ■	 Kitchen accessories—a manual can opener, mess kits or disposable

cups, plates and utensils, utility knife, sugar and salt, aluminum foil 

and plastic wrap, resealable plastic bags 

	 ■	 One complete change of clothing and footwear for each person—	 	

including sturdy work shoes or boots, raingear and other items 

	 adjusted for the season, such as hats and gloves, thermal 	 	

underwear, sunglasses, dust masks 

	 ■	 Sanitation and hygiene items—shampoo, deodorant,

toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb and brush, lip 

balm, sunscreen, contact lenses and supplies and 

any medications regularly used, toilet paper, 

	 towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer, liquid detergent,

	 feminine supplies, plastic garbage bags (heavy-duty)

	 and ties (for personal sanitation), medium-sized

plastic bucket with tight lid, disinfectant, household 

chlorine bleach 

	 ■	 Other essential items—paper, pencil, needles, 	 	

thread, medicine dropper, whistle, emergency 

preparedness manual 

	 ■	 Several flashlights and extra, fresh batteries

	 ■	 A first-aid kit

16

American Red Cross/FEMA

FEMA/Win Henderson

FEMA/David Fine

For a national overview 

of hazards please visit: 

www.noaawatch.gov
...Nature’s Most Violent Storms

Thunderstorms,

Tornadoes, Lightning...

	 ■	 Blankets or a sleeping bag for each person

	 ■	 Entertainment—including games and books, favorite dolls and

stuffed animals for small children 

	 ■	 A map of the area marked with places you could go and their

telephone numbers 

	 ■	 An extra set of keys—including keys for vehicles and any

properties owned

	 ■	 Copies of important documents—including insurance information,

	 driver’s licenses, passports and work identification badges

	 ■	 Copies of medical prescriptions

	 ■	 Cash, coins and copies of credit cards

	 ■	 Family and emergency contact information

	 ■	 Matches in a waterproof container

	 ■	 Cell phone with chargers

	 ■	 Family and emergency contact information

	 ■	 Pet supplies—consider preparing an emergency supply kit

for your pets including: 

• Food—keep at least 3 days of food in an airtight, 

waterproof container.

• Water—store at least 3 days of water specifically for

your pets in addition to water you need for yourself and 

your family.

• Medicines and medical records—keep an extra 

supply of medicines your pet takes on a regular basis 

in a waterproof container.

• First aid kit—talk to your veterinarian about what is 

most appropriate for your pet’s emergency medical 

needs. Most kits should include colton bandage rolls,

bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea

and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and 

saline solution. Include a pet first aid reference book.

• Collar with ID tag, harness or leash— your pet should 

wear a collar with its rabies tag and identification at all

times. Include a backup leash, collar and ID tag in your

pet’s emergency supply kit. In addition, place copies

of your pet’s registration information, adoption papers, 

vaccination documents and medical records in a clean 

plastic bag or waterproof container and also add them 

to your kit. You should also consider talking with your

17
A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Including Tornado Safety 

Information for Schools

veterinarian about permanent identification such as

microchipping and enrolling your pet in a recovery 

database.

• Crate or other pet carrier—if you need to evacuate in 

an emergency situation take your pets and animals with 

you provided that it is practical to do so. In many cases,

your ability to do so will be aided by having a sturdy, 

safe, comfortable crate or carrier ready for transporting 

your pet. The carrier should be large enough for your 

pet to stand, turn around and lie down.

• Sanitation—include pet litter and litter box if 

appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash 

bags and household chlorine bleach to provide for 

your pet’s sanitation needs. You can use bleach as a

disinfectant (dilute nine parts water to one part bleach),

or in an emergency you can also use it to purify water. 

Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per

gallon of water. Do not use scented or color safe

bleaches, or those with added cleaners.

• A picture of you and your pet together—if you 

become separated from your pet during an emergency, 

a picture of you and your pet together will help you 

document ownership and allow others to assist you in 

identifying your pet. Include detailed information about

species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing 

characteristics.

• Familiar items—include favorite toys, treats or 

bedding

For more information on preparing your pets please visit: 

www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html

Practice and Maintain Your Plan

	 Ask questions to make sure everyone remembers meeting places, phone

numbers, and safety rules. Conduct drills regularly. Test your smoke

detectors and NOAA Weather Radio monthly and change the batteries

at least once each year. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s)

according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Replace stored water and 

food every 6 months. 

For More Information

Safety and preparedness materials can be viewed and downloaded at:

National Weather Service at: www.weather.gov/safety.php 

	 Federal Emergency Management Agency at: www.ready.gov

	 American Red Cross at: www.redcross.org 

18

FEMA
NOAA/PA 201051