Tornado warning means that either a tornado has been spotted or a radar has picked one up.
If you are in an area with a tornado warning, it’s time to act immediately. Get to a safe space such as a storm shelter. If you don’t have one, the best option is usually in the basement or the middle of a building, away from windows, preferably in an area with reinforced walls.
In the news, Tornado Warning continues for Burlington NC, Graham NC and Mebane NC until 9:00 AM EST.
The video was watched by many on twitter. See Video Here.
Difference Between Tornado Watch And Tornado Warning
While Tornado Watch is typically issued hours in advance by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC); it means that conditions are ideal for a tornado to form.
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Tornado Warning simple means that either a tornado has been spotted or a radar has picked one up. Meaning you should move to a safe space such as a storm shelter.
From Tornado HQ, you can see Tornado Map Tracker Here.
However, NYTimes has stated three (3) key actions to take when you get a Tornado Warning:
1. Find appropriate shelter: People should identify the best place to shelter well before severe weather is in the forecast. The federal government provides many in-depth resources about how to identify a safe shelter. If you receive a tornado warning, the general rules are:
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If you are outside, go inside.
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If you are at home, go to the basement or an inner room without windows, such as a hallway or closet, on the lowest floor. In these places, it is also a good idea to shield your head and neck with your arms, hide under a heavy table and cover yourself with a mattress or blanket.
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Mobile homes are not safe, and neither are large, empty rooms such as auditoriums, big-box stores and cafeterias, which are vulnerable to collapse.
If you live in a mobile home, make sure that you know of a sound structure that you can get to quickly. If you cannot identify a safe place, ask local officials or emergency responders where you can seek shelter before a storm is even in the forecast; they want you to have this information.
2. Avoid driving. When a tornado warning is issued, it is not safe to be in a vehicle. An automobile can collapse in on itself, debris can penetrate it or — in extreme tornadoes — it can be picked up and flung.
Do not try to outrun a tornado. Even in rural areas, you can be stopped by traffic. And the tornado is likely to be surrounded by other nasty weather than can make driving very dangerous.
You may want to get down inside and cover your head, or you can abandon your vehicle and seek shelter in a low-lying area, such as a ditch or a ravine — but be aware that it could flood. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that you cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.
3. Prepare, prepare, prepare. The absolute best thing you can do is create a plan for your household about where you will seek shelter and what items you will need. This plan should include special considerations for your family, such as what you will do with pets and what medications people might need.
Ready.gov has a guide on how to make a plan for tornadoes and other disasters in several languages
As in the words of Jonathan Porter, the chief meteorologist at the forecasting service AccuWeather; People should review their plans and the best practices for tornado preparation at least once a year.
READ: Articles on Home Safety Here
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“Just having a little bit of thought about that in advance and understanding how you are going to react, it can make the difference between life and death in an emergency,” Mr. Porter said.
Always follow Tornado Map Tracker Here to get latest information on Tornado’s to stay ready to respond.
