Heading To The All-Star Game, The College World Series, A Concert? Be Tornado Ready 

Release Date: June 15, 2012
Release Number: R7-12-008

» 2012 Region VII News Releases

Kansas City, Mo. — As you and your family make plans to go to baseball’s All-Star Game 2012 in Kansas City, the College World Series in Omaha, attend a concert, an outdoor event, or go on a road trip this summer, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants you to know what you should do if a tornado threatens.

“It’s automatic for parents—you step into a crowded shopping mall, or athletic stadium and you check to make sure your children are safely by your side. Your very next thought should be ‘what if?’ What if there’s a need to evacuate this building, or take shelter quickly inside it?” said Regional Administrator Beth Freeman, of FEMA Region VII. “Preparing before severe weather threatens is always the wisest thing to do, but it can be tricky when you’re out in public or in unfamiliar areas. We want to see people consider their options and know what to do during any emergency like it’s second nature.”

BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION

If you’re inside a building (e.g. residence, athletic stadium, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building) the goal is to find the best available refuge area. In the event of a tornado warning, to go the safest refuge area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Put on sturdy shoes. Do not open windows.

If you plan to attend an event in an outdoor stadium or arena, consider how you would evacuate or take shelter in the event of a tornado. It’s best to plan ahead and when possible learn what emergency plans are in place.

If you’re driving or outdoors with no shelter immediately drive to the closest sturdy shelter IF, and only if, it’s five or less minutes away. If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible.

If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, like into a ditch, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Do not get under an overpass or bridge because it is a very dangerous place to be during a tornado. You are safer in a low, flat location. Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries. Also, never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck.

Understand alert and warning systems and stay informed

Learn about weather alerts so you can make good decisions regardless of where you are when severe weather threatens. A tornado Watch means existing weather conditions could create a tornado. However, when a tornado Warning is issued, a tornado has been seen on the ground or Doppler radar indicates there is a strong possibility one may soon form in the area under the Warning. When a tornado warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately.

If at home or in your car, listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information. During severe weather, keep the weather radio with you at all times, including while sheltering. Sign up on www.weather.gov to receive email or text message alerts for severe weather. NOAA has more information about choosing a weather radio at www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrrcvr.htm.

Understanding Outdoor Sirens

Outdoor sirens may warn of an immediate tornado threat, but they’re only meant to alert people outdoors. The sirens in your community may work differently than those in a neighboring town, so it’s important to become familiar with the local siren system. Speak with local emergency management officials to determine:

• When do they turn the siren on?
• If the siren has different tones, what are they and what do they mean?
• When the siren stops, does it mean the threat is over?
• What does the emergency manager recommend doing when the siren sounds, or for each broadcasted tone?
• When does the siren system get tested?

Once you understand your local siren system, teach everyone in the family and then practice getting to the best available refuge area. That way the whole family knows what to do, even if you’re not together during an emergency. During any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.

Have a plan and supplies

According to the National Weather Service, no geographic location, including downtown urban areas, around lakes, rivers or mountains, are safe from tornados. Those outdoors or living in mobile homes are most vulnerable, but everyone should have a plan and prepare.

Begin preparing by building an emergency supply kit (www.ready.gov/build-a-kit), making a family emergency plan (www.ready.gov/make-a-plan) and purchasing a NOAA weather radio. Keep an emergency supply kit at home, work, and in your car, and be sure everyone in the family understands the emergency plan.

Once you have an emergency supply kit, check it monthly to be sure the water is fresh, medications and batteries are still usable and it is tailored to meet your family’s needs that month.

Factors that should be considered for both the supply kit and the family emergency plan could include the needs of family members of different ages, dietary needs, and disabilities or access and functional needs, including assistive technology equipment. Most or all people have both specific personal needs as well as resources that can assist others. Working with your family and neighbors, you can make a supply kit and plan to fit existing needs.

It’s also important to test your family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes and you’ll want to find them as soon as the crisis is over.

Get step-by-step instructions on how to prepare your family and/or business online at www.ready.gov. You may also download the FEMA application (www.fema.gov/help/social_media.shtm) for disaster safety tips, interactive lists for storing your emergency kit and emergency meeting location information for your emergency plan.

Follow www.twitter.com/femaregion7 (even if you don’t have a Twitter account) for more tornado and severe weather safety tips all week.

Visit FEMA Region VII online at www.fema.gov/region7. Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femaregion7, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Friday, 15-Jun-2012 16:02:51