Before a tornado strikes, make an inventory of your household possessions that includes written lists and photographs. Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms and can leave an area devastated in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, striking the ground with whirling winds of up to 200 miles per hour or more. A tornado spins like a top and may sound like an airplane or train.
Tornadoes can strike at any time of year and often accompany hurricanes.
They occur most frequently during April, May and June. Stay tuned to radio and television reports in your area. Keep watch on the sky. A tornado warning means tornadoes have been sighted. You should take shelter immediately.