Oklahomans know it all too well. When a tornado with winds of 150 to 300 miles an hour spins directly at a home, business, school or factory, roofs and walls can fly away.
And yet, Oklahomans know, too, that proper safety precautions will allow most people to survive the devastation of a tornado even while buildings are being torn apart.
Most tornadoes occur in April, May and June. Even the smallest storms can cause incredible damage and threaten health and lives. To keep your family safe, you need to create a safety plan.
At the very least, your plan should tell your family where they need to be. If you are at home and have a basement, storm cellar or safe room, go there. If you don’t have such areas, go to the lowest level of your home. Seek an inner hallway or a small inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Get away from windows. Cover yourself with a mattress or pillows and blankets. Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
Do not attempt to come to the school. Schools are not public shelters.
If tornadoes fire up when school is in session – a relatively rare event – the safest places in schools will be used to protect students.
If tornadoes threaten when school is not in session, school buildings are locked. That means not only would you not be able to get into the school, but you would have exposed yourself and your family to the risk of being in a car when a tornado hits.
What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when tornadoes are possible in your area. Be alert for approaching storms. This is a good time to remind family members where the safest places within your home are located. 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 and the sky becomes threatening, move to your designated place of safety. Turn on a battery-operated radio and wait for further instructions.
When is tornado season?
Most tornadoes occur in April, May and June, although tornadoes can occur at any time of the year.
Is there a time of day when tornadoes usually happen?
Tornadoes can happen anytime, but tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings. They are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m.
What are some tornado danger signs?
» Dark, often greenish sky
» Wall cloud
» Large hail
» Loud roar, similar to a freight train
Are there other signs I should look for?
Some tornadoes appear as a visible funnel extending only partially to the ground. Look for signs of debris below the visible funnel. 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.
What preparations should I make for tornadoes?
» Designate an area in your home as a shelter.
» Have regular tornado drills with your family.
» Have necessary supplies with you in your shelter area. Supplies should include:
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Portable, battery operated radio and extra batteries
- Essential medicines
- Cash and credit cards
- Sturdy shoes
- A set of spare keys to vehicles
- Personal identification
- First aid kit and manual
- Emergency food and water
- Non-electric can opener
- Camera with several rolls of film (for documenting damage)
- A battery-powered TV or radio.
- A plan for getting back together in case family members are separated from one another during a tornado.
Should we leave our home if tornadoes threaten?
If you live in a mobile home, yes. Otherwise, your best strategy is to stay put in your home and take shelter in an interior room on the lowest level of your home.
Is my child’s school a shelter?
Putnam City schools are not public shelters. If school is not in session, school buildings are locked.