This is the time to remind staff members where the safest places within your school are located, and listen to the radio or television for further developments. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. If a tornado warning is issued for your area and the sky becomes threatening, move to your pre-designated place of safety. Turn on a battery-operated radio and wait for further instructions. Look for signs of debris below the visible funnel.
Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while others are obscured by rain or nearby low-hanging clouds.
Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado. Designate areas in the school as shelter areas and practice having everyone go there in response to a tornado threat.