It is important to have a plan of action in the event a tornado threatens your family, and to rehearse that plan frequently. Such a plan should include what you and your family should do when at home, work, school, or outdoors. The time spent planning now could determine whether or not you survive a tornado.

Plan Ahead

First, know the county in which you live. Severe weather warnings are issued for counties, or for portions of counties. By keeping a highway roadmap nearby, you can follow storm movements, and better determine if you are threatened.

Have a NOAA Weather Radio handy at all times. Make sure your model has an tone-alarm feture, which will activate the radio when warnings or watches are issued for your area. If you are planning to be outdoors for an extended period of time, keep up with the latest weather information from your local National Weather Service office.

If you see a tornado, or hear that the National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for your location...

Know Where to Go

In a home or a building, move to a pre-designated shelter, preferably the basement or the lowest floor of your home. Don't worry about opening your windows first - that would be a mistake, just get to the basement, and get under a sturdy piece of furniture or workbench. Grab blankets to cover yourself with, which will protect you from flying debris.
If an underground shelter (basement) is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, and crouch down close to the floor. Again, grab extra blankets to protect yourself from flying debris. Stay away from windows - as they can shatter due to flying debris and the force of the wind.

If caught outdoors, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression, and cover your head with your hands and arms. However, keep an eye on the water levels in the ditch or depression, as those are the first things that fill up with the excess rainfall.

Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned immediately for a reinforced shelter or storm cellar. If no reinforced shelters are available, seek out a nearby ditch or depression.

Get out of automobiles. Tornadoes can toss cars like leaves, and can move much faster than your car. Never try to outrun a tornado! If you are in your vehicle and see a tornado, leave it immediately. Get inside a sturdy shelter or storm cellar, or if none are available, seek a nearby ditch or depression.

Frequently Asked Tornado Questions (link to the NWS Storm Prediction Center).

Local Tornado Historical Climatology