Find out about local alerts and warnings by contacting your local emergency management or visiting their website.

Make A PLAN

STORMS

  • WHERE

    TEXAS

    averages 125 tornadoes per year, which is more than any other state

  • TIME

    3PM-9PM

    is when tornadoes are most likely to occur

  • WHEN

    TORNADOES

    are most likely to occur during the Spring and Summer months

  • SEASON

    SPRING & SUMMER

    are considered tornado seasons

Look Out!

When a tornado watch or warning is issued, keep an eye out for the following signs:

  1. DARK SKY
  2. A WALL CLOUD - A HEAVY, LOWERING CLOUD THAT IS RAIN FREE AND MAY BEGIN TO ROTATE
  3. LARGE HAIL
  4. A LOUD ROAR, SIMILAR TO A FREIGHT TRAIN

CAUTION

Some tornadoes appear as a visible funnel that partially extends to the ground. Look for signs of debris below the funnel. Tornadoes can be obscured by rain or nearby low-hanging clouds.

WATCH

A WATCH means concerning weather is possible. Stay alert and check regularly for weather updates!

WARNING

A WARNING means concerning weather is occurring. Take appropriate action immediately.

SAFETY TIPS

WHEN ENCOUNTERING A TORNADO

  • HOME

    DESIGNATE
    SHELTER

    Designate a shelter area in your home or place of business, where you can take cover during severe weather

  • SAFETY

    INTERIOR
    LOCATIONS

    If an underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Make sure to stay away from windows. Note: Lower-level interior bathrooms provide good protection. The plumbing provides additional sturdiness to the walls.

  • PREPARE

    AVOID
    CARS

    Don’t try to outrun a tornado in your car. Leave it immediately and seek shelter in a sturdy building. Mobile homes should always be evacuated during severe weather. If no shelter is available, get out of vehicles and find a low-lying area (ditch, ravine, etc.) lay flat on your stomach and cover your head with your hands.

  • ALERT

    WATCH
    OUT

    Tornadoes can develop very quickly. Sometimes advance warning is not possible. Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado and watch for flying debris.

Emergency Notification Systems

Do you know what to do when you hear an emergency notification system?

Find Out

Take the Quiz

  • Question 1

    You’re at a family member’s house. You see the sky turn dark and green and hear a roar. What do you do?

    Correct!

    Getting to Safety is more important than getting home

    Incorrect

    Being on the road during a tornado is deadly

  • Question 2

    If you see a tornado while on the road, the best thing to do is try to outrun it.

    Correct!

    You cannot outrun a Tornado

    Incorrect

    Weathering the storm is far safer

  • Your Results

    0 Correct, 0 Wrong

  • DANGER

    LIGHTNING

    kills more people each year than tornadoes

  • TIME OF DAY

    IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION

    thunderstorms occur most commonly in the afternoon

  • WINTER

    THUNDER

    and lightning can sometimes come with a snowstorm

  • AVERAGE

    3 HOURS

    is the average length of a thunderstorm

THUNDER MARKS AN END TO ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

KABOOM!

If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning so take cover in a car or building immediately

If the skies look threatening or you see lightning, head inside and wait at least 30 minutes after the last strike to resume outdoor activity.

By counting the seconds between the flash and the thunder and dividing by five, you can estimate your distance from the strike in miles.

÷ 5 = MILES

SAFETY TIPS

WHEN ENCOUNTERING A THUNDERSTORM

  • CAUTION

    GO
    INDOORS

    If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lighting -- find safe shelter immediately

  • SAFETY

    SEEK
    SHELTER

    Move to a sturdy building. Stay away from the windows (don’t take shelter in a shed, under isolated trees or in a convertible vehicle). If a sturdy shelter is not available, seek protection inside a hardtop vehicle. Keep the windows up, and do not touch metal.

  • PREPARE

    AVOID
    BOATS

    Stay away from large water masses. Water conducts electricity.

  • AVOID

    ELECTRIC
    APPLIANCES

    Unplug appliances and avoid using the telephone, except in an emergency

HIT BY LIGHTNING?

  • SEEK HELP

    CALL 911

    Being struck by lightning can cause multiple health issues.

  • SAFE TO TOUCH

    YOU

    may touch the person(s) involved- they don’t carry electrical charge.

  • CPR

    GIVE CPR

    or provide first aid care if necessary. Call 911 immediately to seek for help.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS

Do you know what to do when you hear an emergency notification system?

Find Out

Take the Quiz

  • Question 1

    How long after a lightning strike should you wait before going outside?

    Correct!

    It can take up to half an hour for the electrical disturbance to dissipate

    Incorrect

    After half an hour, it should be safe.

  • Question 2

    Should you stay away from large masses of water when you see lightning?

    Correct!

    Water conducts electricity

    Incorrect

    Water conducts electricity

  • Your Results

    0 Correct, 0 Wrong

  • WEATHER

    COLD AIR

    causes raindrops to freeze into small blocks of ice as they fall

  • COST

    $1 BILLION

    is the average cost for annual hailstorm damage each year

  • WEIGHT

    1.6LBS

    is the heaviest documented hailstone

  • SPEED

    100MPH

    is the average speed of a hailstone

SAFETY TIPS

when encountering hail storms!

  • PREPARE

    COVER
    ASSETS

    Move cars, boats, RVs and patio furniture to a covered area if weather conditions indicate an approaching storm

  • SAFETY

    SEEK
    SHELTER

    Seek shelter during a storm. Hail of any size can be dangerous when pelted in high winds.

  • CAREFUL

    SLEEK
    SURFACES

    Surfaces may become slick after a hailstorm, so use caution if you’re outside

  • PULL-OVER

    SAFE
    PLACE

    Find a safe place to pull over when driving through a hailstorm. Turn your car so that the hail is hitting the windshield and use the safety glass as protection. The hail could break the glass in other windows.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS

Do you know what to do when you hear an emergency notification system?

Find Out

Take the Quiz

  • Question 1

    Strong updrafts of hot air cause raindrops to form into small blocks of ice as they fall.

    Correct!

    This is how hail is formed

    Incorrect

    Wrong!

  • Question 2

    If you are caught driving in a hailstorm you should

    Correct!

    Taking Cover is the best action

    Incorrect

    Being out in the open is the worst action

  • Your Results

    0 Correct, 0 Wrong

  • Make a Plan

    A little preparation could protect your life and the lives of those around you. It only takes a few minutes to develop a plan. When finished, you'll have a pocket-size emergency plan at hand.

  • Build a Kit

    Remember how long it took to pack for your last vacation? The last thing you want to worry about in a disaster is packing. That’s why everyone should have an Emergency Supply Kit ready to go. Use this checklist to help you assemble your kit.

/// Find out about local alerts and warnings by contacting your local emergency management or visiting their website. ///