Residents may have heard tornado sirens going off at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday,
March 26. This was part of a statewide tornado drill conducted during Ohio’s Severe Weather Awareness
Week. Below are some condensed tips from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that
will help you be prepared in case a tornado occurs in Canal Winchester:
Practice Before the Storm
Develop a family tornado plan that takes into account the type of dwelling
you live in, know where you can take shelter, have a predetermined place to meet after a disaster
and practice your plan at least once a year.
Know the Signs of a Tornado
A visible funnel; strong persistent rotation in the cloud base; whirling dust
or debris; hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift; loud,
continuous roar or rumble that doesn’t fade within a few seconds like thunder; small, bright,
blue-green to white flashes at ground level at night; or persistent lowering from the cloud base,
illuminated or silhouetted by lightning at night.
Know Where to Go
Go to the lowest level of a house or building and move to a small, interior room.
If in a basement, cover yourself with some type of thick padding to protect against falling debris.
Elsewhere, crouch down and cover your head. If in a vehicle or mobile home, get out and seek shelter.
If a sturdy building is not available, go to low, open ground as far away from trees and cars as you can
get.
After the Tornado
Go to the lowest level of a house or building and move to a small, interior room.
Keep your family together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
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