Planning for a Tornado Threat

Business Continuity and Tornadoes

There's a reason many people, when conjuring an image of a tornado, might picture the vast, flat plains of the Midwest United States – and it's not just because of a girl named Dorothy. Tornado Alley, the region between Texas and western Iowa, gets hit by more tornadoes a year than anywhere else in the world, thanks to the collision of cool, dry air from the Rockies with warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. The US also owes some of its tornado-prone reputation to "Dixie Alley," a relatively new term for the states between eastern Texas and Florida. Tornadoes are less frequent here, but tend to cause more deaths, partially due to a higher population density.

These may be the areas at greatest risk for tornado damage, but they are certainly not the only ones. Tornadoes happen in every state and on every continent in the world – in fact, the UK reports more tornadoes per area than the US. Tornadoes that happen in non-prone areas or out of season are often reported as "freak" tornadoes (such as the twister that ripped apart 40 buildings in Brooklyn in 2007), but the reality is that tornadoes can – and do – happen anywhere, any time. You probably don't need to go build a storm cellar if you live in Seattle, but everyone should know the basics.

Prepare for a tornado:

• Know the warning signs of a tornado.
• Sign up for free severe weather alerts from The Weather Channel.
• Be familiar with tornado warning systems used in areas you live or visit.
• Buy a NOAA radio receiver – certain receivers can be programmed to only turn on when there is an alert in your area, thereby functioning similar to a smoke alarm.
• Stay tuned to radio or TV channel reports if there is a tornado watch or warning in action.
• Know the safest place in your home and your workplace for a tornado – underground areas like a basement are ideal; otherwise, confined first-floor areas (such as a closet, bathroom or hallway) are best, as long as they are away from mirrors or windows.
• Bring in outside furniture; park your car in a garage if possible.

What to do when a tornado hits:

• If you are in a mobile home or a vehicle, get out and either find shelter in a building or lay low in an open space or ditch, covering your head, as far away from the vehicle as possible. These are the most dangerous places to be when a tornado hits.
• If you are inside, get into your storm room and take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or under your mattress. Put as many walls between you and the storm as possible.
• Do not open windows – this safety myth actually increases the risk of being hit by debris.

The Dimmitt Tornado (Texas, 1995). Image courtesy of NOAA photo library

Tornado Links:

NOAA All-Hazard Watch – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the primary source of information on severe weather such as tornadoes

NOAA Tornado FAQs – Comprehensive FAQs written by Roger Edwards from the SPC (Storm Prediction Center)

NOAA – Enhanced Fujita Scale – The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) is the standard scale for measuring the severity of a tornado.

NOAA Tornado Outlook – has facts and figures as well as information about forecasting tornadoes

FEMA's tornado page – includes information on what to do before, during and after a tornado

The Red Cross Tornado Page – includes a tornado safety checklist

The CDC's Tornado page

Ready.gov Tornado page

SKYWARN – helps volunteer "spotters" get trained and form groups that work with the National Weather Service to identify tornado threats and warn surrounding communities.

The Tornado Project – has videos, advice, reports, and FAQs as well as some lesser known myths and facts about tornadoes

The Discovery Channel's Tornado Page – includes a quiz on tornado survival.

Encyclopedia Britannica's Tornado Page – has detailed information about the who, what, when where and why of tornadoes.

TORRO – a non-profit UK-based organization devoted to research about severe storms in the UK/Europe; has links to other European-based weather research institutes