What Children Should Know About Tornadoes And Preventing Disaster Damage
Release Date: March 13, 2006
Release Number: 1606-156
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AUSTIN, Texas -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has a Web site at www.fema.gov/kids designed especially for children. The Ready Kids Web site features interesting characters, games, information and quizzes to help youngsters and their parents better understand and prepare for a disaster. With the onset of the Texas tornado season, children can do their part to take safety precautions and also prevent tornado damage.
Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms and always must be taken seriously. Tornadoes can be very dangerous - sometimes even deadly. They come from powerful thunderstorms and appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds with winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. This is about five times faster than a car driving on a highway.
Tornadoes cause damage when they touch down on the ground, sometimes damaging an area one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk, but states such as Texas that are located in "Tornado Alley" have the highest risk. Tornadoes can form any time of the year, but the season runs from March to August.
The ability to predict tornadoes is limited. Usually a community will have at least a few minutes warning. The most important thing to do is TAKE SHELTER when a tornado is nearby.
Important Terms to Know:
Tornado Watch- Tornadoes are possible. Stay tuned to the radio or television news.
Tornado Warning - a tornado has been sighted. Take shelter immediately.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are tornadoes?
Tornadoes come from powerful thunderstorms and appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds with winds reaching up to 300 miles per hour. Tornadoes cause damage when they touch down on the ground, and they can cause damage in areas one mile wide and 50 miles long. Severe weather can be very scary, and tornadoes are one of nature's most violent storms.
Am I at risk from tornadoes?
Every state is at some risk for tornado damage, but states in "Tornado Alley" ( TEXAS , Arkansas , Iowa , Kansas , Louisiana , Minnesota , Nebraska , North Dakota , Ohio , Oklahoma and South Dakota ) have the highest risk. Tornadoes can form any time of the year, but the typical season runs from March to August.
What should I do if a tornado is coming my way?
Tornadoes are hard to predict. Most of the time you only will have a few minutes warning. The most important thing to do is TAKE COVER when a tornado is nearby. It is also important to know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch is when tornadoes are possible in your area. No tornado has been spotted, but it could happen. A tornado warning is when a tornado has been seen, and you should take shelter immediately in a place without windows, such as your bathroom or your basement.
I'm just a kid - what can I do?
There are important things you can do to protect you and your home before a tornado strikes - while the sun is shining. Talk to your parents about taking the following prevention measures before a tornado strikes:
- Keep your ears open - Buy a NOAA weather radio, which broadcasts weather alerts. NOAA stands for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- Know your risk - Research tornadoes at the library or call your American Red Cross chapter to find out if you are at risk in your area.
- Know where to go - When a tornado warning is issued, go at once to a windowless, interior room such as a bathroom, storm cellar, basement or lowest level of the building.
- Make a list - Compile a list of items to bring inside in the event a tornado watch is issued. Don't forget your pet.
- Remove hazards - Help your parents trim diseased or damaged limbs from trees and shrubs and remove debris from your yard.
- Know what to do - Talk to your parents about having a plan for shelter and an out-of-state family contact in case you must relocate after a disaster.
- Build a safe room - Mom and dad might need to talk to a contractor for this.
- Keep your roof strong - Don't lose your roof to high winds. Have your parents install strapping to keep the roof attached to the walls.
- Ask others for advice - Have mom and dad talk to your local building official about additional actions you can take.
KIDS QUIZ
- Which natural disaster comes from powerful thunderstorms and appears as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds?
a. Hurricanes
b. Tornadoes
c. Earthquakes
d. Floods
- What wind speed can a tornado reach?
a. 50 MPH
b. 750 MPH
c. 300 MPH
d. 500 MPH
- The area of the United States that has the highest risk for tornadoes is _______.
a. Tornado Alley
b. Funnel Town
c. Disaster Pathway
d. Alaska
- Tornado season typically begins in _____ and ends in _______.
a. January; September
b. August; December
c. March; August
d. November; June
- What is the most important thing to do when a tornado is near by?
a. Call your best friend
b. Take cover
c. Get your camera out so you can take pictures
d. Watch TV until the tornado is gone
- A tornado watch is:
a. When you get your binoculars out and look for a funnel cloud
b. When tornadoes are possible in your area
c. A device that tells you what time a tornado is going to strike
d. When a tornado has been spotted in your area
- A tornado warning is:
a. When tornadoes are possible in your area
b. When your mom tells you to do your science homework
c. When a tornado has been spotted in your area
d. A device that predicts how big a tornado is going to be
- What do you call a special room built inside the house that is designed to withstand very high winds and flying debris?
a. Oz Room
b. Safe Room
c. Tornado Tester Room
d. There is no such room
- There is never a lot of damage cause by tornadoes.
a. True
b. False
- Which of the following are actions you can take to protect your home?
a. Building a safe room in your house
b. Using devices like anchors, straps and clips to secure buildings
c. Reinforcing garage doors for strength
d. All of the above
KIDS QUIZ ANSWERS
- The correct answer is B - Tornadoes come from powerful thunderstorms and appears as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds with winds that can reach 300 miles per hour.
- The correct answer is C - Tornado wind speed can reach up to 300 miles per hour.
- The correct answer is A - States in "Tornado Alley" ( Arkansas , Iowa , Kansas , Louisiana , Minnesota , Nebraska , North Dakota , Ohio , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Texas ) are at the highest risk for tornado damage.
- The correct answer is C - Tornado season is usually March through August, although tornadoes can occur at any time of year. They tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings. Tornadoes can occur in any state, but are more frequent in the Midwest , South and Southeast.
- The correct answer is B - Taking shelter once a tornado has been spotted near your house is the most important thing for you and your family to do. Find shelter in areas like a closet, interior bathroom or basement where there is little or no glass and limited objects that could become flying debris.
- The correct answer is B - Remember, a Watch signals that conditions exist to produce tornadoes and that you should remain alert for approaching storms.
- The correct answer is C - A Warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or indicated by weather radar and you should take cover immediately.
- The correct answer is B - A safe room is a specially constructed interior room, such as a closet or even a bathroom, that is able to withstand the high winds of a tornado and flying debris. A family would retreat to this room when a tornado has been sighted. The FEMA Web site has building plans to help families build such a room - which can save your life.
- The correct answer is B, False - Tornadoes strike with incredible velocity. Wind speeds from tornadoes can approach 300 miles per hour, and as the wind picks up, any loose items in the yard take flight. As the wind intensifies, shingles begin to lift ands trees are uprooted. Unprotected doors give way and the wind is inside the house, pushing the structure from within. Poorly attached window coverings give way and, as pressure builds, the garage door fails, allowing the full force of the wind inside. And all this happens in a matter of seconds.
- The correct answer is D - All of these are examples of prevention measures a family can take to reduce the damage caused by a tornado. For more information about tornado season, go to www.fema.gov/kids/tornado.htm.
Ready Kids is a tool to help parents and teachers educate children in grades 4-5 about emergencies and how they can help get their family prepared. The Ready Kids web site features age-appropriate, step-by-step instructions on what families can do to be better prepared and the role kids can play in this effort.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Thursday, 18-May-2006 14:06:58