Can you give me some info on Tornados?

Question

I really need some information on Tornados, because I live in Buxton, NC and yesterday we had this terrible storm, and there was a report of a Water Spout that came on-shore and was described as a frequent F3 Tornado, something like that, and I didn't have a clue what it was supposed to sound like and what kind of signs would tell us that it was getting close, and I also need help on understanding what to do, because I have four children and I don't think we can all fit in a closet, and we live in a 2-story house.

HELP!!!

Answer 1

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this hazard.

Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds obscure others. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

The following are facts about tornadoes:

They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.

The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.

The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH.

Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.

Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.

Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.

Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time

What to do Before a Tornado

Be alert to changing weather conditions.

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information.

Look for approaching storms

Look for the following danger signs:

Dark, often greenish sky

Large hail

A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)

Loud roar, similar to a freight train.

If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

What to Do During a Tornado

If you are under a tornado WARNING, seek shelter immediately!

If you are in:  Then:  

A structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building)

Then: Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.  

If you are in:   A vehicle, trailer, or mobile home

Then:   Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

If you are in: The outside with no shelter

Then:  Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.

Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.

Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

Answer 2

Go to the basement.

Answer 3

Tornadoes are the most felt but least understood of weather events. Quite bluntly, tornadoes destroy everything in it's path like a ravaging Titan on a tirade. The sound of a twister can be deafening like a hundred locomotive engines barrelling toward you. It can suck all the water from your pipes and toilets as it passes by, and leave your house in ruins like the Titan squashed it with his giant foot!

With that being said, when you here news of a twister coming, don't fool around. Get to the lowest level possible, under something sturdy, far away as possible from windows and doors.

There are several signs that a twister is coming. If you see rain falling sideways. If you see a constant barage of lightning. If you smell something unusual. If you hear "engines" roaring in the distance. Go for cover, NOW!