Severe Weather Awareness Week in Alabama is Feb. 3-7.
Tornadoes are powerful and unpredictable natural disasters that can cause significant damage and threaten life and property.
Understanding tornado safety and the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning is crucial for staying safe.
Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning
- Tornado Watch: This means that tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It’s an early alert issued by the Storm Prediction Center, covering a large area, sometimes multiple counties or states. During a tornado watch, you should have a plan of where you will go if a warning is issued and be ready to act quickly.
- Tornado Warning: This indicates that a tornado has been sighted or detected by weather radar and there is imminent danger to life and property. Warnings are issued by local forecast offices and cover a smaller area, such as a portion of a county. When a tornado warning is issued, you should immediately seek shelter in a sturdy building, preferably in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor.
Tornado Safety Tips
Stay Informed: Monitor weather updates through local news, NOAA Weather Radio, and the UA Safety app. You will receive a UA Alert if the campus is placed under a tornado watch or a tornado warning. Pay attention to alerts and warnings.
Have a Plan: Create a plan for where you will go during a tornado Warning. If you live on campus, know where the campus storm shelters are located. If you live off campus, know where you can go to be safe during a tornado.
Seek Shelter: Move to a storm shelter immediately if a tornado warning is issued. If you are unable to get to a campus storm shelter, go to the Best Available Refuge Area in the nearest building. If you are off campus, go to a room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows and cover yourself with a mattress or heavy blankets to protect against flying debris. You should never stay in a mobile home, automobile or on upper-level floors of a house or apartment complex during a tornado.
Stay Put: Remain in a safe place until the storm has passed. Continue to listen for updates and follow any additional instructions from authorities.
Learn more about tornado safety by viewing this video.