Tornado

Tornados are nature’s most violent storm. Tornadoes are funnel or cone shaped clouds of wind that develop from severe thunderstorms. Tornadoes cause damage when they touch to the ground and have winds that reach up to 300 miles per hour. Tornadoes usually occur between March and August in the states of Texas, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois, Colorado, and Iowa.

Deadliest in World History:

• Daulatpur Saturia Tornado

• Occurred in 1986 in Bangladesh

• Killed 1,300 people and injured 12,000 people

• Lots of damage to trees and homes

Deadliest in U.S. History:

• Tri-State Tornado

• Occurred in 1925 in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana

• Killed 695 people

• Injured 2,027 people

• Traveled 300 miles

BEFORE A TORNADO:

• Look for danger signs

• Dark or green colored sky

• Large low lying cloud

• Large hail

• Loud roar like a freight train

• Make a family plan of where to go if a tornado occurs

DURING A TORNADO:

• Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls

• Put on shoes and protect your head

• Don’t open the windows

• If outside:

• Get in a vehicle and buckle your seatbelt

• Put your head below the window and cover your head

• If you can’t find shelter or a vehicle:

• Find a ditch or low lying area and lay in it

AFTER A TORNADO:

• Wear shoes when going outside so you don’t hurt your feet

• Don’t go near loose power lines because they can electrocute you

KEYWORDS:

Hail: frozen rain

Electrocute: shock of electricity through your body that can injure or kill you

Source: FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/