Tornado / Severe Weather
Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms.
A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with winds that can reach up to 300 miles per hour. The path of a tornado can be over a mile wide and extend for over 50 miles.
Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down, and the air may become very still. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible. Tornadoes can damage buildings and send loose objects flying.
Tornado Watch
The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when weather conditions indicate that a tornado is possible.
Tornado Warning
The National Weather Service issues a tornado warning when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. The Kent State University tornado sirens are activated when a tornado is sighted nearby.
What You Can Do
Prepare before an incident
- Ensure you are enrolled in Flash ALERTS and your contact info is current
- Pay attention to weather reports (weather apps)
- Identify and practice going to a tornado shelter
If a warning is issued, Respond
- Immediately take shelter
- Shelter in a labeled tornado shelter
- If you can't locate a shelter, shelter in an interior room or hallways located below ground or at ground level
- Stay away from windows, glass, or large unsecured objects that could fall
- Shield your head and neck
- Continue to listen / watch for weather updates
- If you are outdoors, get indoors or in a car if you can
- Low laying outdoor areas such as a ditch are a last resort
- If you are trapped, try to call or text for help by banging on pipes or walls to attempt to alert responders of your location
Recover after the incident
- Stay clear of downed power lines
- Be aware of your surroundings, since buildings may have been damaged, creating an unsafe environment
- Never re-enter a damaged building unless told by officials it is safe to do so