Tornado? Get to a Safe Room, or the Lowest Windowless Room
Ready.gov says that when a tornado comes, go right away to the safe place you picked ahead of time: ideally a safe room built to FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards; the next best option is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building. If you can’t stay at home, go to a public shelter.
Ready.gov also says tornadoes can happen anytime and anywhere, with winds that can top 200 mph; in the U.S., the Midwest and Southeast have greater risk. This article follows Ready.gov’s tornado page: how to prepare, how to protect yourself during a tornado, and what to watch for afterward.
Before a tornado
Ready.gov explains (Ready.gov Tornadoes):
- Know your risk: learn how high the tornado risk is where you live; the Midwest and Southeast have greater risk.
- Know the signs: a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar like a freight train.
- Get alerts: sign up for your community’s warning system; the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio send alerts; learn what your local sirens sound like.
- Pick a safe place and practice: a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter; the next best is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
- Pets: include your pets in your family emergency plan.
- Be ready for a long stay: prepare to stay home or shelter in place for a long time, with emergency supplies, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food, water, medical supplies and medication.
During a tornado
- Go to your safe place right away: go immediately to the safe place you picked; if you can’t stay at home, go to a public shelter.
- Stay away from windows: stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
- Protect your head and neck: cover your head and neck with your arms, and put furniture or blankets around or over you; watch for flying debris, which can cause injury or death.
- Keep getting updates: monitor EAS, NOAA Weather Radio or local alerts, and follow officials’ instructions.
In a car
- No safe option: Ready.gov says there is no safe option in a car, only less dangerous ones.
- While it’s far away: if you can see the tornado, it is far away and traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path at a right angle.
- If extreme winds or debris catch you: park safely out of traffic lanes, stay buckled, keep your head below the windows, and cover your head with your hands and a blanket or cushion if possible.
- If you can get lower than the road: if you can safely get to an area lower than the roadway, leave the car, lie down there and cover your head.
- Avoid bridges: bridges create traffic hazards and offer little protection.
After a tornado
- Keep getting updates: keep monitoring EAS, NOAA Weather Radio and local authorities.
- Fewer phone calls: save phone calls for emergencies, and use texts or social media to reach family and friends.
- Stay away from power lines: stay clear of fallen or broken power lines.
- If you are sick: contact your health care provider and keep sheltering in place until you get further instructions.
- During cleanup: wear thick-soled shoes, long pants and work gloves; wear a mask when cleaning mold or debris, following CDC guidance.
For getting official emergency alerts on your phone, see Phone Emergency Alerts Are Free, Some Phones Need Them On; for using the FEMA App for alerts and shelters, see Free FEMA App Alerts for 5 Places, Texts Find Shelters; for what goes in an emergency kit, see Emergency Kits, 1 Gallon of Water a Day Each, Food for Days.
What this article doesn’t cover
- Watch vs. warning: the page doesn’t explain the difference, so this article doesn’t either.
- Mobile homes: the page doesn’t say what to do if you live in a mobile home, so this article doesn’t either.
- Building a safe room: Ready.gov has separate safe room materials that this article didn’t review.
FAQ
We don’t have a basement. Where do we go?
Ready.gov says a safe room or storm shelter is best; the next best is a small, interior, windowless room on the lowest level of a sturdy building. If you can’t stay at home, go to a public shelter.
What if I’m driving when a tornado comes?
Ready.gov says there is no safe option in a car; if it’s far away and traffic is light, you may be able to drive away at a right angle; if it catches you, park out of traffic lanes, stay buckled with your head below the windows and covered, and avoid bridges.
Can I shelter under a bridge?
Ready.gov says to avoid bridges, which create traffic hazards and offer little protection.
Can I call my family right after a tornado?
Ready.gov recommends saving phone calls for emergencies and using texts or social media to reach family and friends.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-01.
- Ready.gov, Tornadoes (page updated 2026-06-02):https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes