Tornado preparedness checklist for your household
Tornado warnings arrive in minutes, so the decisions worth making are where you go and how you hear about it.
Pick the safe spot now
You want the lowest floor, the most interior room, and as many walls between you and the outside as possible.
- A basement, storm cellar, or an interior bathroom or closet on the lowest floor
- No windows, and nothing heavy on the floor above it
- If you live in a mobile home, identify a nearby sturdy building and leave early
- Practice getting everyone there in under two minutes
Warnings that reach you asleep
Phone alerts fail when service drops or the phone is silenced. Have a second channel.
- Turn on wireless emergency alerts and keep the volume audible overnight
- Add a battery-backed weather radio with an alert tone
- Learn the difference: a watch means conditions are possible, a warning means take shelter now
Keep in the safe spot
Anything you would have to fetch during a warning should already be there.
- Helmets for everyone, including bike helmets, to protect against head injury
- Sturdy shoes, work gloves, and a whistle
- Flashlight, power bank, and a copy of your plan and documents
- Water and a few days of food if the space allows
After it passes
Debris fields cause most of the injuries that happen after a tornado.
- Stay put until you are sure the threat has passed, and watch for a second cell
- Wear shoes and gloves before moving through debris, and avoid downed lines
- Photograph damage before cleanup and open a claim the same day
- Check in with your out-of-area contact so relatives stop calling local lines
Common questions
Where is the safest place during a tornado?
The lowest floor, in the most interior room with no windows, such as a basement, storm cellar, bathroom, or closet. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
What is the difference between a tornado watch and a warning?
A watch means conditions could produce tornadoes and you should be ready to move. A warning means one has been sighted or indicated by radar and you should take shelter immediately.
Should you shelter in a mobile home during a tornado?
No. Mobile and manufactured homes offer little protection even when tied down. Identify a nearby sturdy building or shelter and go there when a watch is issued.
See where your household stands
The Household Resilience Check scores this dimension along with seven others in about five minutes.
Take the Household Resilience Check →Keep going
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