1 Tornado Safety Tips For Employees Why Is Tornado Preparedness Important? Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel‐shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while rain or nearby low‐hanging clouds obscure others. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible. Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A 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. Tornado Facts: •They may strike quickly, with little or no warning. •They may appear nearly transparent (invisible) until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel. •The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. •The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph. •Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer. Dallas County is not located in the nationally recognized “tornado alley” but does have a potential risk for tornadoes each year. •Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 pm and 9 pm, but can occur at any time. Provided by: Dallas County Homeland Security & Emergency Management 214‐653‐7980 2 Tornado Terms: •
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Tornado Watch ‐ Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information. Tornado Warning ‐ A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately. Tornado Intensity SCALE WIND SPEED POSSIBLE DAMAGE Enhanced (Fujita Scale): •
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F0 40‐72 mph Light damage: Branches broken off trees; minor roof damage EFO 65‐85 mph F1 73‐112 mph Moderate damage: Trees snapped; mobile homes pushed off foundations; roofs damaged EF1 86‐110 mph F2 113‐157 mph Considerable damage: Mobile homes demolished; trees uprooted; strong built homes unroofed EF2 111‐135 mph F3 158‐206 mph Severe damage: Trains overturned; cars lifted off the ground; strong built homes have outside walls blown away EF3 136‐165 mph F4 207‐260 mph Devastating damage: Houses leveled leaving piles of debris; cars thrown 300 yards or more in the air EF4 166‐200 mph F5 261‐318 mph Incredible damage: Strongly built homes completely blown away; automobile‐sized missiles generated EF5 over 200 mph Before A Tornado: •
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Talk with your department safety coordinator about the tornado plan for your department/division/office. If you do not know who your safety coordinator is, ask your supervisor or department director. Locate a tornado safe area close to your work area and make sure you can access it in the event of a tornado emergency. Review tornado safety tips and emergency procedures. Know What To DO! During A Tornado (Inside a Building): •
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Avoid windows and/or areas with large glass doors or store front windows. Do not attempt to leave the building until instructed that it is safe or an all clear is sounded. Go to a tornado safe area, usually an inside room, without windows; this could be a center hallway, bathroom, interior stairways or interior closets. Do not use elevators because the power may fail, leaving you trapped. Provided by: Dallas County Homeland Security & Emergency Management 214‐653‐7980 3 •
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Protect your head and make yourself as small a target as possible by crouching down. Assist employees, citizens or building occupants with special needs. During A Tornado (Outside a Building): •
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If you are outside and a tornado is approaching, get into a ditch, low lying area or gully. Avoid areas with trees or debris that may be picked up or knocked down by tornado winds. Protect your head and make yourself as small a target as possible by crouching down. After A Tornado •
If you are injured or need emergency assistance call 9‐1‐1 and Dallas County Security 214‐653‐7000. NOAA Weather Radio Operations: •
If your department/division has been issued a NOAA Weather Radio, you can use it to monitor tornado watch and warning information. If the radio activates, carefully monitor the safety message for protection action advisories. Move to a tornado safe area until the danger has passed. Provided by: Dallas County Homeland Security & Emergency Management 214‐653‐7980