A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground, with rotating winds of up to 250 miles per hour or more. Connecticut averages approximately three tornadoes every two years, with Hartford and Litchfield Counties facing the highest risk.
Tornadoes usually last less than 10 minutes and generally occur during spring and summer between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Most of the deaths associated with tornadoes are caused by secondary hazards, such as flying debris and large hail. Tornadoes also are capable of destroying structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air at very high speeds. Because tornadoes often damage power lines, gas lines, and electrical systems, there is a risk of fire, electrocution, or explosion even after a tornado has passed.
- A Tornado WATCH means that tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.
- A Tornado WARNING means that a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Tornado warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. People in a warning area should go immediately to their safe room. If they are in a vehicle, they should get out of the vehicle and go to shelter in a nearby sturdy building or lie flat in a low spot away from the vehicle.
Learn to protect yourself and your family. Download our Hazard Prep Checklists and take steps to be prepared before, during, and after a tornado.
Before
What Can I Do Before a Tornado Strikes?
- Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio.
- Register for CT Alert.
- Talk to your insurance agent to ensure your policy includes tornado damage.
- Keep insurance policies, documents, and other valuables in a safe deposit box.
- Plan how you will communicate with your family and friends if telephone or Internet systems are down.
- Make a 72-hour emergency kit.
- Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed.
- Identify a safe place in your home where family members, including pets, can gather during a tornado. The safest place to be is underground, or in an interior bathroom, closet, or hallway. If you live in a high-rise building, pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building. If you live in a mobile home, choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building.
- Conduct periodic tornado drills so everyone remembers what to do if a tornado approaches.
- Learn the tornado emergency plans and locations of safe places at your workplace and your children’s schools.
- Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a storm.
Download a printable PDF version of this checklist
During
What Should I Do During a Tornado?
- Use a NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred local news source to track local watches and warnings.
- Pay attention to weather clues around you that warn of imminent danger, including:
- Dark, often greenish clouds
- A lowering, often rotating base of a thunderstorm called a wall cloud
- Large hail
- A funnel-shaped cloud, or a cloud of debris (even if a funnel is not visible)
- A roaring noise often compared to the sound of a freight train
If a tornado watch is issued:
- Bring your companion animals indoors and maintain direct control of them.
- Be prepared to go to your tornado safe place.
If a tornado warning is issued:
- Go to your safe place to protect yourself from glass and other flying debris. Take your pets with you, provided you can do so without endangering yourself.
- Get under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table, and hold on to it with one hand while using the other to protect your head and neck.
- If you are outside in a vehicle or mobile home, go immediately to the basement of a nearby sturdy building or lie flat in a low spot and use your arms and hands to protect your head and neck.
- Be aware of flash flooding.
- Avoid places with wide-span roofs, such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways, or shopping malls.
Download a printable PDF version of this checklist
After
What Should I Do After A Tornado?
- Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred local news source for updated information and instructions.
- Check for injuries. Give first aid and get help for injured or trapped persons. Taking care of yourself first will allow you to help others safely until emergency responders arrive.
- Do not attempt to move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.
- Help people who require assistance, especially individuals with functional needs and their caregivers.
- If you are trapped, try to attract attention to your location.
- Report damaged power or gas lines to the utility company immediately.
- Avoid damaged areas and keep away from rescue operations if you do not require assistance.
- If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe.
- Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes.
- Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights instead of candles when examining buildings.
- Examine structures to ensure they are not in danger of collapsing.
- Look for fire hazards, such as leaking gas lines or damaged electrical systems. If you smell gas or hear a hissing noise, open a window and quickly get outside. Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home.
- Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids immediately.
Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning insulation, turn off the electricity at the main circuit box (but do not step in water to do so). Call an electrician if required. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service.
- Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
- Use phones only for emergency calls to avoid overloading communication systems.
- Keep all your animals under your direct control and be aware of hazards at nose and paw/hoof level.
Download a printable PDF version of this checklist
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