Emergency Preparedness and Response

Severe Weather Threats: Tornadoes

You’ve seen the destructive force of tornadoes vividly illustrated on TV over the past couple of months. Are you and your employees prepared to survive such a catastrophic event?

Many areas of the country have experienced severe tornadoes this spring, and the threat continues now that summer is here.

Since tornadoes pose a major threat to life and property, how to deal with these severe risks should be a part of every company’s emergency preparedness and response planning.

Severe weather hazards should also emphasized in your training program to provide employees with information about how to respond to such conditions both on and off the job.

What to Watch For

Today, we’re fortunate to have advance warning of tornadoes, which allows us to save lives even though there’s usually little we can do to protect property.

Danger signals of a tornado include:

  • Severe thunderstorms with frequent lightning, heavy rain, strong winds, and power failures
  • Hail pelting down from very dark skies
  • A roaring noise
  • And of course, the trademark dark, spinning funnel shape from sky to ground

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What to Do

The National Weather Service tracks weather systems with radar and can usually give advance warning of dangerous weather conditions. So when skies look threatening, check the local radio or television station for indications of severe storms or tornadoes.

If a tornado watch is in effect, this means you should prepare to take shelter and keep informed of the latest conditions. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been confirmed in the area, and people should take cover immediately.

When a watch is announced, any drapes in the work area should be closed to prevent flying glass and objects from injuring people if a tornado develops. The issuance of a warning is a signal to move to interior corridors and close the doors to windowed areas. Remain there unless asked to move to lower levels of the building or an all clear is announced.

Away from work when a tornado approaches, people should abandon cars or mobile homes and find cover in a well-constructed building. If there are no suitable ones nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch or culvert, and shield your head from flying debris with your hands.

In shopping centers or other large buildings, seek a designated shelter. The next best place to be–there or at home–would be a basement, or on the lowest floor, in the middle of the building behind an interior wall, well away from windows.


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