Weather Blog: Severe Weather Preparedness Week, “Tornado Safety”

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - We continue our coverage of Georgia’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week with tornado safety. Tornadoes can happen at any time here in the southeast. While the most active months are March, April, and May - we still see a significant amount of tornadoes from November through January.

The National Weather Service defines a tornado as, “A violently rotating column of air touching the ground, usually attached to the base of a thunderstorm.”

Before we get into tornado safety it is crucial to know the difference between a watch and a warning.

Georgia's Severe Weather Preparedness Week(NWS)

An easy way to the difference between a watch and a warning is by comparing the two to the steps to make a cupcake. A watch is where you have all the ingredients it takes to make a cupcake (tornado) but not an actual cupcake(tornado). A tornado warning is when all the ingredients come together and you actually make the cupcake (tornado).

How to stay safe in the event of a tornado:

Go immediately to your tornado-safe place when a warning is issued. Your safe place should be the lowest floor of whatever structure you are in and with as many walls between you and the outside. A basement is the best option for a tornado shelter. A mobile or manufactured home is not a safe shelter during a tornado warning.

Be sure to cover your head to protect from debris, a helmet is best. The leading cause of death from a tornado is blunt force trauma to the head. A mattress or pillows are also good for protecting your body.
If you are in a vehicle and unable to get to a sturdy structure the National Weather Service recommends to “either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.”
Hard-soled shoes are recommended in case you have to climb over debris.

After a tornado es it is important to stay away from down powerlines or areas of water.

Be sure to stay up to date with the latest watches and warnings in your area and when safe to do so assess the damage and help a neighbor.