Don’t get Twisted practice Tornado safety Published May 10, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs -- Severe weather is always a concern for many people, and one of the hardest storms to prepare for is a tornado. High winds and rainfall make these storms difficult to prepare for and recover from. But, what is a tornado? Tornado, or twister, is a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, tunnel-shaped cloud. It is spawned by a thunderstorm and produced when cool air overrides a layer of warm air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly. The 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management team offers advice on what to do before, during and after a tornado on or off base. "One of the best ways to prepare for tornadoes is to have a disaster preparation kit and a plan," said Airman 1st Class Jacob Buchanan, 2nd CES EM apprentice. "Another way to prepare is know what the different tornado terms are and what to do during the different alerts." According to the National Weather Service, more than 40 people each year are killed because of tornadoes. Knowing tornado alert terminology can often help with the preparation and recovery from tornadoes. Two important tornado terms to know are tornado watch and tornado warning. During a tornado watch the conditions are favorable for tornado formation, and during a tornado warning, a tornado has been sighted by weather radar. Although all U.S. states can have tornadoes, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas are at the greatest risk. "It's important that families have a place to gather if a tornado is headed toward an area," said Buchanan. "Safe places to consider include a basement, center hallway, bathroom or closet on the lowest floor. Above all, avoid exterior walls and windows. If you are in a high-rise building, you may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor. Find a place in a hallway near the center of the building." Not only is it important to know what to do during a tornado, the recovery is also important. After a storm, many dangers may be unseen or brought from the high winds and rain. "One important thing to consider after a tornado is to pay attention to weather alerts, television, radio, base Giant Voice system and first responders," said Buchanan. "There may be other dangers that are caused by the tornado: debris, downed electrical lines and water contaminates can pose a problem for survivors of the storm." For more information on tornadoes or how to build a disaster preparation kit visit www.beready.af.mil or www.ready.gov/tornadoes.