Tornado checklist
Last reviewed 2026-10-21
A short list to help you get ready for tornadoes. It's based on Ready.gov, National Weather Service and American Red Cross guidance, not advice about any one home.
Before tornado season
- Learn the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.Learn more: Watches and warnings (opens weather.gov)
- Have more than one way to get warnings, like phone alerts and a NOAA Weather Radio.Learn more: About NOAA Weather Radio (opens weather.gov)
- Pick your shelter spot: a safe room or storm shelter, a basement, or a small room with no windows on the lowest floor. If you live in a mobile home, pick a sturdy building nearby.Learn more: Where to take shelter (opens ready.gov) · LA: Learn more: Where to take shelter (opens gohsep.la.gov) · FL: Learn more: Where to take shelter (opens floridadisaster.org)
- Practice going there with everyone in your home.Learn more: Make a tornado plan (opens weather.gov)
When a tornado watch is issued
- Follow updates from your local National Weather Service office and local officials.
- Charge your phone and keep it with you.
- Review your plan. Be ready to go to your shelter spot.
When a tornado warning is issued
- Go to your shelter spot right away.Learn more: What to do during a tornado (opens weather.gov)
- Cover your head and neck with your arms. Put blankets or other padding around or on top of you if you can.
- If you're in a mobile home, go to a sturdy building nearby if you have time.Learn more: What to do during a tornado (opens weather.gov)
- In a car, try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If you can't, stay in the car with your seat belt on, keep your head below the windows and cover it.Learn more: What to do during a tornado (opens weather.gov)
After the tornado
- Keep listening to local officials. More storms may follow.
- Stay away from downed power lines and damaged buildings.Learn more: What to do after a tornado (opens weather.gov)
- During cleanup, wear thick-soled shoes, long pants and work gloves.Learn more: Tornado safety tips (opens redcross.org)
- Take photos of any damage before you clean up, for your own records.
- Contact your insurance company or agent to report damage.
- Watch for fraud. Don't pay for repairs in full before the work is done. FEMA doesn't charge a fee to apply for disaster help. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.Learn more: Report a scam (opens reportfraud.ftc.gov)
Sources: Ready.gov "Tornadoes"; NOAA National Weather Service tornado safety (weather.gov/safety/tornado); American Red Cross; Louisiana GOHSEP; Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Information from US federal and state government agencies and from nonprofit organizations. KAVO360 is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by any of them. Last reviewed 2026-10-21.
General information only. KAVO360 isn't an emergency alert service and doesn't issue watches or warnings. The National Weather Service and your local officials are the official sources. Always follow local officials and evacuation orders.
Want to see what's mapped for your address?
This explains FEMA map labels only. It is not an official FEMA flood zone determination or an elevation certificate. Check the official map at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov).
Find help in your state
We list emergency management and insurance department links for every state, DC and Puerto Rico. For Louisiana and Florida, we also list more detailed resources, and we plan to add more states over time. The national links below have information for all 50 states, DC and US territories.
National resources
- DisasterAssistance.gov (opens disasterassistance.gov): Learn about federal help after a declared disaster.
- FEMA (opens fema.gov): Learn about disaster preparedness and recovery. Checked Oct 21, 2026
- NFIP FloodSmart (opens floodsmart.gov): Learn about flood insurance.
- Ready.gov (opens ready.gov): Learn how to prepare for emergencies.
- National Weather Service (opens weather.gov): See forecasts, watches and warnings.
These links go to government and program websites. KAVO360 isn't affiliated with any of them and doesn't decide who gets help. Each program sets its own rules.