In an emergency, call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) and follow instructions from local officials first.
Ready Survival Kits

Disasters · US

Tornado

Where to shelter when a tornado is coming, wherever you are, and what to have ready beforehand.

By The Ready TeamExpert review: pendingSources checked 29 October 2026

Quick card · TornadoSources checked 29 Oct 2026

Before

  • Pick your shelter now: a basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. 1
  • If you live in a mobile home, plan where the nearest sturdy building is. Mobile homes and tents are not safe in a tornado. 1
  • Keep a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and a basic emergency kit. 2

During

  • Go to your basement, safe room or interior room away from windows. Bring pets if time allows. 1
  • At school or work, follow the tornado drill. Stay out of large open rooms like gyms, cafeterias and auditoriums. 1
  • Outdoors: get inside a sturdy building immediately. Sheds are not safe. 1
  • In a vehicle with no shelter in reach: get down and cover your head, or leave the car for a ditch or ravine. 1

After

  • Keep listening to alerts on a battery or hand-crank radio. 2
  • Use generators outdoors only, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. 3

What to have

  • NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert 2
  • Flashlight and extra batteries 2
  • Whistle to signal for help 2
  • First aid kit 2
  • Sturdy shoes and a change of clothes 2

Why the shelter choice matters

The National Weather Service guidance is the same everywhere: put walls and floors between you and the storm. The safest places are a basement, a safe room, or a small interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. 1

Places that are not safe

  • Mobile homes and tents. Leave for a sturdy building before the storm arrives. 1
  • Vehicles. The National Weather Service says being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. Drive to shelter early. If you can’t, get down and cover your head, or leave the car and lie in a low area such as a ditch or ravine. 1
  • Large open rooms. Gyms, cafeterias and auditoriums have wide roof spans. Move to the designated shelter area instead. 1

After the storm

Power is often out after a tornado. Keep your radio on for updates, and if you run a generator, keep it outside and at least 20 feet from any window, door or vent to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. 2 3

Sources

  1. National Weather Service, What to Do During a Tornado
  2. Ready.gov (FEMA), Build a Kit
  3. CDC, What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage