A Tornado Watch -- indicates that conditions are right for the development of tornadoes.

A Tornado Warning -- indicates that a tornado has been detected.

Before a tornado:

Develop a plan for you and your family members at home, work, school, and when outdoors. Practice your plan. Know the county in which you live, and keep a highway map nearby to follow the storm reports. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts. Your local media may provide weather updates and warnings. Check the National Weather Service Radar Map frequently. It is updated every 30 minutes.

When a tornado warning is issued:

Move to a saft place, such as a storm shelter. If no shelter is available, move to a lower floor interior hallway or room. If in an automobile, leave the car immediately, find a low spot, and lie flat on the ground. Mobile homes provide little protection from tornadoes and should be moved away from during the tornado watch phase. Tornadoes can develop so rapidly that no warning is possible. Remain alert for the signs of approaching tornadoes. Most deaths and injuries from tornados are due to flying debris.

One of the most interesting recent developments is the concept of strengthening an interior room to serve as a storm shelter in your home. After studying houses damaged by high winds and tornadoes it has been found that often a small interior room, such as a closet or bathroom, remains intact after the house is destroyed. Part of the reason for this relates to how winds act on the structure. High winds like those generated by a tornado often lift the house off of the floor of the house, leaving behind the floor and the interior rooms. So the idea is to strengthen an interior room to serve as a shelter during a tornado or other high wind event.