Another round of severe weather will hit the region today, and a large area is at high risk of strong tornadoes. Other hazards include large hail and damaging winds, and current disaster relief areas could be affected.
While people may be experiencing severe weather fatigue, the Red Cross urges residents to remain prepared.
Find shelter locations from high winds in the places where you spend a lot of time. Depending on the timing of storms, this could be work, school, home or somewhere else.
- Find a safe room built to withstand high winds. The next best protection is a small room with no windows on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
- Mobile, manufactured, trailer homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) are not safe in high wind events. Plan ahead by finding a sturdy building to shelter in before a tornado watch or warning.
- If you live in an apartment and do not have a suitable room, you can shelter in a hallway in the middle of your building, plan to shelter with a neighbor on a lower floor or consider any common spaces that you can get to quickly, like a community building.
Practice tornado drills.
- With your entire household, practice moving quickly to the safe locations that you identified. Remember to include people with special needs and pets.
- Create a personal support team of people you may assist and who can assist you.
- If you live in a mobile home, practice going to a safe place.
If you are on the road during a severe storm:
- Do not drive through heavy rain or hail. Reduce your speed and pull over safely to the side of the road. Do not stop unless you are completely off the road!
- Turn on your hazard lights to improve visibility, as it can be incredibly limited.
- Don’t drive through standing water. Driving through standing water, especially if it is deep, can cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
- If you are driving and there is a tornado:If you are far enough away from the tornado, drive in a 90-degree angle away from the twister.If the tornado is close, abandon your car and seek shelter in a sturdy structure. If there are no buildings close by, find a low spot or ditch away from your car.
- If you are far enough away from the tornado, drive in a 90-degree angle away from the twister.
- If the tornado is close, abandon your car and seek shelter in a sturdy structure. If there are no buildings close by, find a low spot or ditch away from your car.
Know the difference:
- Tornado Watch: Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Be ready to act fast!
- Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado is near. There is danger. Move to safe location right away.
- You may not always receive a tornado warning. Know the signs of a tornado. Take shelter if you feel you are in danger.
Plan to stay connected.
- Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.
- Plan to monitor local weather and news.
- Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone.
- In case of a power outage, have a battery-powered radio.
- Download the FREE Red Cross Emergency App. It puts preparedness info and local warnings at your fingertips. Get it for Android or iOS devices at redcross.org/apps or text GETEMERGENCY to 90999.
Download your tornado safety checklist — available in nine languages — at redcross.org/tornado.
Red Cross ready to respondThe Red Cross has liaisons in state emergency operations centers and is in contact with local officials. Disaster workers are on standby and ready to open shelters, deliver food and distribute supplies wherever they are needed.