http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_591_,00.html

Here’s some more information:

http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/tornado.html
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/1953beecher/torSafetyFamily.php
http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca./air/summersevere/ae00s02.en.html

Emergency Planning for your pet:

http://www.spca.bc.ca/animalissues/emergency.asp

OK…how is this:

1. In advance, pick a safe place for your family to gather. Have tornado drills so everyone instinctively knows where to go and won’t panic in the emergency. Try to pick an interior room or hallway, or a storm cellar.
2. Keep the gathering place as uncluttered as possible. Don’t store junk there because it is rarely used.
3. Make sure you can protect yourself from flying debris and glass.
– lean a mattress over you
– try to pick a place that does not have windows
4. Keep a first aid kit in the gathering place.
5. Make sure you have spare bottles of prescription medications that your family takes (i.e. insulin, testing strips, tester, seizure medication, etc.) that you keep in the gathering place.
6. Have a spare change of clothes for each family member. (Don’t forget to have a supply of "personal care" items)
7. Have extra formula (and water) and diapers if you have babies.
8. Make sure there is several days worth of water for EACH person PLUS one extra person.
9. Make sure there are spare blankets/sleeping bags.
10. Make sure there is soap, bleach (for disinfecting), and hand sanitizer.
11. Make sure you have a charged cell phone and family and emergency phone numbers.
12. Make sure you have lanterns and flashlights (with extra batteries)
13. Make sure you have non-perishable food (i.e. breakfast bars, nuts, trail mix, etc.) If you have canned goods, make sure the contents don’t have to be heated in order to eat.
14. Have a battery powered radio with extra batteries.
15. If you need to heat your food, make sure you have Sterno, matches, a safe and ventilated place for an open flame. Don’t forget that you’ll need a pot, utensiles, paper plates, etc.
16. Designate a place for waste disposal so you don’t contaminate your living area. If you’re inside, you may need to potty in a garbage bag.
17. Make sure you have several garbage bags for waste and garbage.
18. Keep the phone number of your insurance company as well as your insurance policy numbers in your gathering place.
19. Make sure you have food and water for your pets.
20. Make sure you have copies of your pets’ medical records and the Vet’s phone number.

Remember, all of these things have to be taken care of BEFORE the tornado happens. You won’t be given enough warning once the tornado has been identified to do anything but get to safety.

TORNADO DANGER SIGNS

1. Large Hail: Tornadoes are spawned from powerful thunderstorms and the most powerful thunderstorms produce large hail. Tornadoes frequently emerge from near the hail producing portion of the storm.
2. Calm Before The Storm: Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down, and the air may become very still.
3. Cloud Of Debris: An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado, even if a funnel is not visible.
4. Funnel Cloud: A visible rotating extension of the cloud base is a sign that a tornado may develop. A tornado is evident when one or more of the clouds turn greenish (a phenomenon caused by hail), and a dark funnel descends.
5. Roaring Noise: The high winds of a tornado can cause a roar that is often compared with the sound of a freight train.
6. Calm Behind The Storm: Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

http://admin-scb.ouhsc.edu/ems/tornado.html

Hope this information is helpful to you. I grew up in Texas so I’ve had a little experience with these things. Luckily, I’ve never been hurt by one nor has anyone I know.

There are 3 things you do:

-Put on your shoes
-Go to your tornado shelter
-Get under something sturdy and cover your head with your hands

That’s really it.