What to do in case of a tornado How to recognize a tornado As a resident of Corinth, you should be able to recognize and react to the dangers of a tornado because you live in an area where tornados are common. A tornado is a rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm that can produce wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour and can cause tremendous damage. Tornados are most likely to occur from late February through the end of May, but can occur at any time throughout the year. Tornados usually form from severe thunderstorms. The most common signs that a tornado is forming are (as shown in Figure 1): A green tint in the sky and clouds Rotating clouds A funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground Extra clothes A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Warning Radio You should know in advance where you plan to take shelter in the event of an emergency. If your house does not have a tornado shelter, take shelter in the innermost room of your house, away from windows. Listen to weather forecasts and be aware of the current weather conditions. If the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a Tornado Watch, be prepared to take shelter. If the NWS issues a Tornado Warning, you should take shelter immediately. How to react if a tornado is in the area If a Tornado Warning is issued, follow these steps: 1. Go to your shelter or innermost room immediately. 2. Make sure you have your emergency supplies with you. 3. Cover yourself in blankets or pillows to prevent injuries from flying glass and debris. Figure 1: A green cloud extending towards the ground How to prepare for a tornado You should always have an emergency supplies kit that includes: Bottled water Non-perishable food A first aid kit 4. Wait until the NWS or NOAA says the danger has passed. If you are in a car, leave your car and lay down flat in a ditch or the lowest area you can find. Do not stay in your car. If you are outdoors, lay down in a ditch or depression. For more information, contact the National Weather Service in Fort Worth at 817-4292631, or visit http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/ Sample Style Sheet Josh Bernal, bernal.eagle83@att.net Author Page Elements Page size 8 ½ " x 11" Margins 1" on edges. ½” between columns. Layout standard hand out, 2 columns (3” wide) Spacing single-space for text, double space for lists Visual aids picture of funnel clouds, bulleted and numbered Headings left-hanging Typeface Georgia for text lists Type Elements Microsoft Sans Serif for headings and title Size 11 point for text, black (0, 0, 0) 15 point for title, red (250, 0, 0) 13 point for headings, blue (6, 25, 202) Graphic Elements Text Elements Style bold for title and headings Captions Microsoft Sans Serif, 8 pt. plain, black (0, 0, 0) Bullets round bullet, symbol 183, black (0, 0, 0) Capitalization Tornado Warning Government organizations, Tornado Watch, and Numbers spell out numbers 1-99 Lists bulleted lists use black solid dot bullets Punctuation items in a series use comma before last item Style Handbook Technical Communication by Brenda R. Sims Sources Images Figure 1, http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/iwx/program_areas/wxpics/tornado/s_sharpl ey_wall_cloud.jpg Content http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/