Where is the safest place in a house during a tornado?

The safest place is the lowest floor, in an interior room away from windows. A basement or storm cellar is best. If you have no basement, go to a small interior room on the ground floor such as a bathroom, closet, or hallway. Ready.gov recommends putting as many walls as possible between you and the outside.

What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?

A tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop in your area. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or detected on radar. When a warning is issued, take shelter immediately. Warnings give you minutes, not hours.

What should I do if I am in a mobile home during a tornado?

Leave the mobile home immediately and go to the nearest sturdy building or designated storm shelter. Mobile homes provide almost no protection from tornadoes, even when tied down. FEMA and the National Weather Service advise that no mobile home is safe in a tornado. Identify your nearest shelter before tornado season begins.

Should I open windows during a tornado?

No. Opening windows wastes time that should be spent taking shelter and does not reduce damage. The idea that equalizing pressure prevents damage is a myth. The National Weather Service advises against opening windows during a tornado.

Can a tornado happen without a warning?

Yes. While the National Weather Service issues warnings for most detected tornadoes, some form too quickly to provide advance warning. A NOAA weather radio with battery backup and automatic alerts provides the fastest official notification. Tornado warnings average about 13 minutes of lead time, but some arrive with little or no notice.

Tornado Preparedness Checklist — Before, During & After a Tornado

Phase 1

Before tornado season. Plan now. Practice now.

Tornado warnings give you minutes, not hours. The time to decide where you will shelter and how you will get there is before the sirens sound.

Shelter Plan

Identify your shelter: lowest floor, interior room, away from windows (basement, storm cellar, bathroom, closet)
Practice getting every household member to the shelter in under 60 seconds
If you live in a mobile home, identify the nearest sturdy building or community shelter and know how long it takes to reach
Store sturdy shoes near your shelter area (debris injuries are common after tornadoes)

Alerts and Communications

Get a NOAA weather radio with battery backup and automatic alerts (Wireless Emergency Alerts on phones are a supplement, not a replacement)
Know the difference: Watch = conditions favorable. Warning = tornado sighted or detected. Take shelter on a warning.
Know your county name (warnings are issued by county, not city or ZIP code)
Agree on a family communication plan and an out-of-state contact person

Shelter Supplies

Keep bicycle or motorcycle helmets in your shelter area (head injuries are the leading cause of tornado fatalities)
Store a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, and bottled water in the shelter area
Keep copies of important documents in a waterproof bag in the shelter area
If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, and pet food in the shelter supplies

Documents and Insurance

Review your homeowner's or renter's insurance for wind and tornado coverage
Create a video walkthrough of your home and belongings for claim documentation
Keep cash in small bills accessible (ATMs and card readers fail during outages)
Store digital copies of IDs and insurance policies in a secure cloud location

Phase 2

During a tornado warning. Shelter now. Seconds count.

When a tornado warning is issued for your area, take shelter immediately. Do not wait to see the tornado. Do not try to outrun it.

If You Are at Home

Go to your shelter location immediately (basement, interior room, lowest floor, away from windows)
Put on helmets. Cover yourself with a mattress or heavy blankets to protect against debris
Get under a sturdy table or workbench if available
Do not open windows (this wastes time and does not reduce damage)

If You Are Away From Home

In a vehicle: drive to the nearest sturdy building. Do not shelter under an overpass (wind accelerates through them)
If no building is available and the tornado is visible, park and get to a low ditch or ravine. Lie flat and cover your head
In a mobile home: leave immediately and go to a sturdy building or community shelter
In a store or public building: go to the innermost area on the lowest floor. Avoid large open rooms like gyms

Phase 3

After the tornado. Move carefully. Document everything.

The immediate aftermath is full of hidden hazards: downed lines, broken gas pipes, unstable structures, and scattered debris. Move slowly and deliberately.

Immediate Safety

Continue monitoring weather radio — multiple tornadoes can occur in the same storm
Wear sturdy shoes and gloves when moving through debris
Stay away from downed power lines — always treat them as live
If you smell gas or hear hissing, leave immediately and call your utility from outside

Recovery and Documentation

Photograph all damage before moving or cleaning anything for your insurance claim
Contact your insurance company to open a claim as soon as possible
Check on elderly neighbors, people with disabilities, and those who live alone
Register with FEMA for disaster assistance if your area receives a federal declaration

Gear

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A few items belong in every shelter area. These are the ones that matter most when the warning sounds.

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Tornado Preparedness Checklist. Know your shelter. Know the signs.