| Washington University School of Medicine |
Environmental Health & Safety |
Tornadoes
Tornadoes: Warning Signs
| A sickly greenish or greenish black color to the sky. |
| If there is a tornado watch or warning posted, then the fall of hail should be considered as a real danger sign. Hail can be common in some areas, however, and usually has no tornadic activity along with it. |
| A strange quiet that occurs within or shortly after the thunderstorm. |
| Clouds moving by very fast, especially in a rotating pattern or converging toward one area of the sky. |
| A sound a little like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but turning into a roar as it comes closer. The sound of a tornado has been likened to that of both railroad trains and jets. |
| Debris dropping from the sky. |
| An obvious "funnel-shaped" cloud that is rotating, or debris such as branches or leaves being pulled upwards, even if no funnel cloud is visible. |
What to do if you are in a large buildings, hospitals and factories
Interior rooms and halls on the lowest floor are the best locations in large buildings; a corner would be safer than the middle of the wall. Central stairwells are good, but elevators are not. If the building loses power, you may be in the elevator for a long time. Crouch down, and make as small a "target" as possible. If you have something to cover your head, do so, otherwise, use your hands. Stay away from glass walls, windows and doors no matter how small. Stay away from wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, theaters, and warehouses.
http://www.tornadoproject.com/
http://www.fema.gov/library/tornadofa.htm
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