How to recognize a tornado

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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/
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