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Tornadoes
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Disasters

Tornadoes

Tornadoes are violent, rotating storms that can strike with little warning and cause devastating damage to neighborhoods.

Overview

Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. They appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Their whirling winds can reach speeds of up to 300 miles per hour.

Impact

Tornadoes can strike quickly with little or no warning. They are capable of devastating a neighborhood in seconds and can leave a path of damage over a mile wide and 50 miles long. Additionally, tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.

Preparedness and Coping

Although there are no guarantees of safety during a tornado, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan, as being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety, and losses. If you do experience a disaster, it is normal to feel stressed, and you may need help finding ways to cope.

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Frequently Asked Questions

Flying and falling debris is the leading cause of tornado-related fatalities and severe injuries. Wearing a helmet—such as a bicycle, motorcycle, or construction hard hat—significantly lowers the risk of fatal traumatic brain injury. Cover yourself with heavy blankets, sleeping bags, or a mattress to absorb impacts from flying objects. Wear sturdy, thick-soled shoes immediately; survivors who shelter barefoot or in flip-flops frequently sustain debilitating puncture wounds and lacerations from shattered glass and structural nails while navigating the wreckage afterward.
The safest location is an engineered safe room or storm shelter. In standard homes or commercial structures without a safe room, go to the lowest level available, ideally a basement or underground cellar. If no basement exists, seek shelter in an interior room on the ground floor away from exterior walls and windows, such as a hallway, bathroom, or closet. Putting as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible is critical. Avoid large open-span spaces like auditoriums, cafeterias, and gymnasiums, as their roofs are structurally vulnerable to high-wind failure.
The post-impact period brings significant secondary injury risks. Hazards include severed electrical lines, ruptured natural gas pipes, unstable building debris, and contaminated municipal water supplies. Never use matches, candles, or electrical switches if you smell gas or suspect a leak. Wear heavy work gloves, long pants, and puncture-resistant boots during rescue or debris clearing. Any puncture wound or laceration sustained from tornado debris requires prompt medical care and an evaluation of tetanus immunization status; adults who have not received a tetanus booster within the last 5 years require an updated vaccine following dirty or contaminated wounds.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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