// warning minute

DOC-118 Shelter 3 min

Tornado

Lowest, smallest, interior, covered. Windows and bridges are not shelter.

TL;DR

Go to a basement, storm shelter, or lowest interior room; cover head and neck; stay away from windows.

Severe tornado damage across a neighborhood
Tornado decisions are measured in minutes; choose the shelter before the warning.

/ first_moves

Do these first

/ failure_mode

How this plan fails

Mobile homes and vehicles are poor tornado shelter. If time allows, move to a sturdier shelter before the warning becomes impact.

/ avoid

Do not spend your first mistake here

  • Sheltering under an overpass or bridge.
  • Trying to outrun a tornado in a vehicle when a sturdy shelter is reachable.

A tornado shelter should already be chosen. When the warning arrives, you should not be debating rooms.

The rule is lowest, smallest, interior, and covered. A basement or storm shelter is best. The next option is a small interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.

Bring shoes, light, radio, phone, and a whistle. After impact, the ground may be glass, nails, power lines, and unstable debris.

Do not use bridges or overpasses as shelter. They can increase wind danger and flying-debris exposure.