Weather Safety - Tornadoes

Safety Checklist | What To Do | Safety Quiz

	What's the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
A.A watch means that a tornado might happen and a warning means a tornado has been spotted. Correct! A tornado WATCH means that conditions are favorable for tornado development in the watch area. Watches can be issued for hours and can cover large geographic areas. A tornado WARNING means a tornado has been indicated on Doppler radar or has been spotted on the ground. Warnings means that a tornado is imminent in the warned area and you should move to shelter immediately. B.A watch means that a tornado is coming and a warning means it is here. Incorrect! Keep Going^® C.A watch means a tornado has been spotted and a warning means you should take cover. Incorrect! Keep Going^® D.There is no difference Incorrect! Keep Going^®
	When a tornado is approaching your home, you should open windows to equalize pressure.
A.True Incorrect! Keep Going^® B.False Correct! Opening windows won't save your home and, worse, it puts you close to windows that could be damaged in the tornado and cause injury. If there is a tornado warning for your area or you see a tornado approaching, take shelter in the lowest, most interior room of your house immediately.
	Is an overpass a safe place to take shelter if you're in your car when a tornado approaches?
A.Yes Incorrect! Keep Going^® B.No Correct! Taking shelter under an overpass is dangerous. Wind becomes more intense when it is forced under an overpass and also can force debris into the crevices underneath an overpass.
	Tornadoes only happen in Spring in tornado alley, the middle of the U.S.
A.True Incorrect! Keep Going^® B.False Correct! Tornadoes can happen in any state, in any month. In just one week during January, 2008, dangerous tornadoes struck in Washington state, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia and Alabama.
	What are the fastest recorded tornado winds?
A.No more than 70 miles per hour Incorrect! Keep Going^® B.Up to 150 mph Incorrect! Keep Going^® C.Over 300 mph Correct! The fastest winds ever recorded on earth (in this case, by Doppler radar) were in the May 3rd, 1999 tornado that ravaged the Oklahoma City area - 318 mph, which is much higher than the most powerful hurricane winds.

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