Go to the safest nearby room
Use a basement or designated tornado safe room. If neither is available, use a small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outdoors. Protect your head and neck.
Plan ahead if your home is not sturdy shelter
A mobile home, tent or shed does not provide adequate tornado protection. Identify a nearby sturdy building before severe weather develops and allow time to reach it. Bring pets if you can do so without delaying shelter.
At school, work or an event
Follow the designated tornado shelter route. Avoid large open rooms such as gyms, auditoriums and cafeterias. Move promptly; do not gather by windows to watch the storm.
If you are driving
A vehicle is unsafe in a tornado. Reach the nearest sturdy shelter if you can safely do so. Plan where you could stop before severe weather reaches your route. Keep receiving warning updates while you shelter.
Related alerts
Check current alerts about tornadoes. You can change the location on the alerts page.
View related alerts