Safety instructions for various tornado scenarios Published March 26, 2014 By Tim McFall the 375th Air Mobility Wing Safety Office SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Each year about 1,000 tornadoes touch down all over the United States and a small percentage strike occupied buildings. The chances that a tornado will strike a building that you are in are very small, but each year people are killed or injured. One of the most important things you can do to prevent being injured in a tornado is to be alert to the onset of severe weather. Most deaths and injuries happen to people who are unaware and uninformed. Tornadoes pose the greatest severe weather threat to life and property here at Scott. Tornado season in Illinois is from mid-March through June, but tornadoes can, and have, occurred in every month of the year. Rotating thunderstorms, called supercells, produce tornadoes (they also produce hail, severe winds, lightning, and flash floods). Not every severe thunderstorm will produce a tornado, but if the conditions are right, a tornado can develop within minutes. Tornadoes can also occur without a thunderstorm. A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can take many forms, but are typically funnel shaped with very high wind speeds. The clouds are dark and rotate while winds increase and large hail is very common. They are most frequently seen from mid-afternoon through the early evening, but they can occur at any time. Most tornadoes move from southwest to the northeast and usually move at speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour. They can move as fast as 70 miles per hour. Most tornadoes produce wind gusts of 50 to 120 miles per hour and last only a few minutes. Debris will often be seen flying in a swirling motion in the air. The sound that a tornado produces is unique and has often been described as sounding like a freight train. The area in which tornadoes are most prevalent is known as "tornado alley" and is typically defined as the region from Texas to Nebraska. Geographically, Scott is located in the center of tornado alley. Tornadoes can, and do occur, in every U.S. state. Illinois averages 29 tornadoes per year. Some tornadoes strike rapidly, without time for a tornado warning. Others leave time for weather reporters to put out a tornado watch or warning. When you are watching for rapidly emerging tornadoes, it is important to know that you cannot depend on seeing a funnel as clouds or rain may block your view. Keep tuned to local radio and TV stations or to a weather radio. Tornado facts Tornado Watch: Conditions are favorable for a tornado to form during a tornado watch. Expect heavy rains, hail, and high winds. · Keep the radio or television on and listen for the latest weather information. · Keep watching the sky, especially from the west or southwest. Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted in the area. Note: Scott AFB will only sound the base siren system when a tornado threatens the base. The surrounding communities will sound their sirens when a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service for St. Clair County. · Seek protection immediately. Seeking protection · Sighting a funnel cloud - If you see a funnel cloud nearby, you should take shelter immediately. If you spot a tornado that is far away, alert others to the hazard by reporting it before taking shelter. Use common sense and exercise caution: if you believe that you might be in danger, seek shelter immediately. · Taking shelter - Flying debris causes most deaths and injuries during a tornado. The key to surviving a tornado and reducing the risk of injury lies in planning what you and your family will do if a tornado strikes. One basic rule is to avoid windows. An exploding window can injure or kill. 1. At home - Pick a place in the home where family members can gather if a tornado is headed your way and talk about it beforehand. The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. If there is no basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor--this could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If possible, cover your body with a blanket, a sleeping bag, pillows or a mattress, and protect your head with anything available--even your hands. 2. In a mobile home - Do not stay in a mobile home during a tornado. Mobile homes can turn over during strong winds. Even mobile homes with a tie-down system cannot withstand the force of tornado winds. If you live in a mobile home, go to a nearby building, preferably one with a basement. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert and shield your head with your hands. 3. Long-span buildings - A long-span building, such as a shopping mall, theater, or gymnasium, is especially dangerous because the roof structure is usually supported solely by the outside walls. Most of these buildings hit by tornados cannot withstand the enormous pressure. If you are in a long-span building during a tornado, stay away from windows and get to the lowest level of the building. 4. Public buildings - Extra care is required in offices, schools, hospitals, or any building where a large group of people is concentrated in a small area. The exterior walls of such buildings often have large windows. If you are in any of these buildings: - Move away from windows and glass doorways. - Go to the innermost part of the building on the lowest possible floor. - Do not use elevators. 5. Outdoors - If possible, get inside the lowest level of a sturdy building. If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch, low-lying area, or near a strong building. Beware of potential flooding. 6. In a car - Never try to outrun a nearby tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss it through the air. Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch, low-lying area away from the vehicle, or near a strong building. For more information, call the 375th Air Mobility Wing Safety Office at 256-6311.