A NOTE ABOUT EVACUATIONS… Unlike hurricanes, which sometimes have days of warning and require big evacuations due to widespread storm surge and flooding, tornadoes develop rapidly and are unpredictable in their exact path. That’s one of the reasons we “go live” and stay live for all tornado warnings locally.
The best way to survive a tornado is to shelter in place in a sturdy building, basement, or storm shelter. That doesn’t mean attempt to evacuate some states over.
Hurricanes cover massive areas, cause high sustained winds, and cause widespread flooding over hours or days. That’s why authorities issue evacuation orders well in advance. Tornadoes, on the other hand, are much smaller (in the grand scheme of things), intensify and weaken extremely rapidly, and can change direction unpredictably. Instead of evacuating, your best defense is to have a shelter plan and take immediate action when warnings are issued.
Even on a higher risk day, like Saturday is setting up to be, there will be MANY communities that simply have rain and thunder with no tornadoes. That’s the way it works on a tornado risk day. Where tornadoes DO happen, however, buckle up. EF3+, intense tornadoes will be possible.
When tornado warnings are issued—don’t run, take cover! The one exception to this: If you’re in a mobile home, we encourage you to stay with a nearby family member or friend in a site-built structure. Mobile homes are death traps during tornadoes.
