• In a home or building, move to a pre- designated shelter such as a basement. If an underground shelter is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. (Stay away from windows!)
• At school, follow the disaster plan. Stay away from gymnasiums or other wide, free-span roofs. Go into center hallways and stay far from windows.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. Leave a mobile home and go to the lowest floor of a nearby shelter.
• If you’re in your car, do not try to outrun a tornado. Leave the car for safe shelter or lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. (Highway overpasses do not provide adequate shelter).
• Open Country; move away from the tornadoes projected path at right angles. Seek shelter in a ditch, ravine or culvert, and avoid trees.
• Be aware of flying debris. (Flying debris from tornadoes causes most injuries and fatalities).
• Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible. Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado such as dark, often greenish sky, large hail or a loud roar similar to a freight train.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SAFETY:
A thunderstorm is severe if the wind gusts reach a minimum of 57.5 mph, if hail is at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter (Penny-sized), or if the thunderstorm produces a tornado or tornadoes.

Many storms produce lightning. Follow the LIGHTNING SAFETY guidelines listed here:

• Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent.
• Move to a sturdy building or hard-top automobile. In an automobile, you should close the windows, lean away from the door, put your hands in your lap and don’t touch the steering wheel, ignition, gear shift or radio. (Convertibles, cars with fiberglass or plastic shells and open-framed vehicles are not suitable lightening shelters)
• Do not take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm.
• Avoid using electrical appliances. Turn off air conditioners and unplug any unnecessary appliances.
• Use phones only in an emergency.
• If you are caught outdoors and no shelter is nearby, find a low spot away from trees, fences and poles.  If you’re in the woods, take shelter under shorter trees.
• If you are boating or swimming, find shelter on land immediately
• If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet, tuck your head and cover your ears. Make yourself the smallest target possible while minimizing your contact with the ground. DO NOT lie down.

FLASH FLOODING SAFETY:
Flooding kills almost twice as many people each year as tornadoes and hurricanes combined. Most of those fatalities happen when people drive their cars into flooded areas. The following safety rules should be followed:

• Avoid or leave areas subject to sudden flooding.
• Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams.
• If driving, be aware that the road bed may not be intact under flood waters; turn around and go another way.
• Never drive through flooded roadways; water may be deeper than it appears.
• If vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and sweep it away.
• Be especially cautious at night when it’s more difficult to recognize flood dangers
• Do not camp or park your vehicle long streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
• Children should never play around high water, storm drains or viaducts.

AFTER THE FLOOD:

• Throw out fresh food that comes in contact with flood waters. Boil drinking water before using. Wells should be pumped out and water tested purity before drinking. If in doubt, contact your local public health authority.
• Seek necessary medical care at the nearest clinic or hospital. Food, shelter, and first-aid are available from the Red Cross.
• Electrical equipment should be dried and checked before returning to service.
• Use flashlights (Not lanterns, torches, or matches) to examine buildings; flammable items may be inside.
• Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities.