Do this first
- 1Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building. A basement or storm shelter is best.
- 2No basement? Get into an interior room with no windows — a bathroom, closet, or hallway. Put as many walls as you can between you and the outside.
- 3Cover your head and neck. Use a mattress, thick blankets, or a helmet.
- 4In a mobile home or vehicle: leave now for a sturdy building or shelter.
- 5Stay put until the warning expires or officials say it is clear.
What to grab
- Shoes, phone, and flashlight.
- Medications, glasses, and pet carriers.
- Helmets for everyone if you have them.
- Battery or hand-crank weather radio.
Where to go
- Basement or storm shelter.
- Otherwise the lowest-floor interior room, away from windows and outside walls.
- Mobile home or car: the nearest sturdy building.
What NOT to do
- Don't stay near windows or open them.
- Don't try to outrun a tornado in a car.
- Don't shelter under an overpass or bridge.
- Don't stay in a mobile home — it is not safe in a tornado.
- Don't go outside to look.
All emergenciesGeneral guidance only. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and follow instructions from local officials.