Tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible. Every state has some risk of this hazard.

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.

Make sure you’re ready for a tornado with the How to Prepare for a Tornado Guide from Prepareathon (formerly America’s PrepareAthon!) that explains how to protect yourself and details the steps to take now so that you can act quickly at a time when every second counts.

More tips:

1. Build or buy an emergency kit.
2. Make a family communications plan.
3. Sign up for local emergency alerts and warnings. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.
4. Look for danger signs including: dark, often greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating); and, a loud roar, similar to a freight train. If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

For more information, read: Ready to Get Ready?, http://first-aid-product.com/blog/disaster-survival-and-preparedness/spring-storms-are-coming.html, Weather Ready Nation and watch the When the Storm Comes preparedness video and visit the Prepareathon Tornado page