Tornado safety and preparedness Published April 10, 2015 By Airman Matthew Glenn 17th Training Wing Civil Engineer Squadron GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, they can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. Now that summer is here, that also means tornado season has begun. Here are some precautions for the upcoming season: Preparing for a tornado · Build an emergency kit including food, water, medications, batteries, flashlights, important documents, radio, etc. · Choose a safe room where household members will meet during a tornado. A good spot is the basement. Make sure the room has no windows. · Pay attention to local news and TV stations. · Know the community's warning system. Many communities have ways of warning residents about tornadoes such as sirens. All military bases will sound a three to five minute steady tone in the event of a natural disaster. Look for Tornado Danger Signs · Dark, greenish clouds, a phenomenon caused by hail. · Wall cloud, an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm. · Cloud of debris. · Large hail. · Funnel cloud, a visible rotating extension of the cloud base. · Roaring noise. Two different states of emergency exist: a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch signals when the conditions mentioned above occur. During a tornado watch, remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information. A tornado warning signals when a tornado appears on radar or visually. If this happens, take shelter immediately in a safe room. For more information about Americas PrepareAthon, visit http://www.ready.gov/prepare Feel free to contact the Readiness and Emergency Management Flight with any questions or concerns!
