Tornado Guide

1. Overview

Tornadoes can happen anytime and anywhere, bringing intense winds up to 300 miles per hour and deadly flying debris. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Peak tornado season in the southern states is March – May. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 – 9 p.m. but can occur at any time. 

2. Before a Tornado

  • Buy a weather radio to receive alerts about storms capable of producing tornadoes.
  • Sign up for emergency notifications from the city's emergency response team in the event of an emergency. 
  • Sign up for the OCAlert system which allows Orange County Government to contact you via email and/or text during an emergency affecting Orange County. 
  • Residents who have no alternative means of shelter and suffer from a medical condition that requires medical attention by a skilled professional should register with the Orange County Special Needs Registry to receive assistance during a disaster. This registry provides first responders with valuable information to prepare for disasters or other emergencies. 

If you see or hear of any of these danger signs, be prepared to seek shelter immediately.

  • Dark or greenish sky
  • Large hail
  • A large, dark, low-lying cloud (could be rotating)
  • Loud roar, similar to a freight train

3. During a Tornado

  • If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately.
  • If you are in a structure building, go to a safe room, basement or storm cellar. If you are in a building without a basement, get to a small interior room on the lowest level. 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.
  • Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • If you are in a vehicle, trailer or mobile home, get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even when tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. 
  • If you are outside without shelter, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a vehicle. 

4. After a Tornado

If you require immediate medical assistance, call 911. The Citizen's Information Line (407.246.4357) is the city's non-emergency phone number and is activated after a major storm.

Food Safety

In the event of a power outage, the following should be discarded:

  • Perishable foods including meats, dairy products and eggs that have not been refrigerated for more than two hours.
  • Foods contaminated by floodwaters.

Flood Safety

  • Avoid walking, swimming or driving through floodwater as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines and may hide dangerous debris, sewage and bacteria. 
  • If you are driving and come upon flood waters, stop, turn around and go another way.
  • If you see a stopped sewer, please contact the water reclamation division immediately at 407.246.2213.
  • If you smell a sewer-like scent in your neighborhood, contact the Water Reclamation Compliance and Public Awareness Section to schedule an inspection at 407.246.2657.

Water Purification

  • Residents under a boil water notice should bring water to a rolling boil for one minute.
  • If available, drink bottled water.
  • If you cannot boil water, add six drops of unscented household bleach per one gallon of water and let stand for thirty minutes prior to use. Water purification tablets are also available at most pharmacies and sporting goods stores.

Generator Safety

Portable generators can be hazardous if used improperly. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion in internal-combustion engines. Carbon Monoxide poses a serious health risk due to its ability to displace Oxygen.

To avoid CO poisoning:

  • Only operate generators outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home.
  • Never use generators indoors or in attached garages.

To avoid electrocution:

  • Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.
  • Observe the generator manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.
  • Do not plug the generator into a wall outlet.
  • If you must connect the generator into the house wiring, have a qualified electrician hook up the standby electrical system.

Chainsaw Safety

  • Wear protective clothing, including grip gloves, a hard hat, safety goggles, hearing protection, non-slip steel-toe shoes and trim-fitted clothing that won’t get caught in the chain.
  • Follow instructions in the owner’s manual for starting and operating the saw.
  • Stand to the side of the saw so you won’t follow the cut through into your leg.
  • Hold the saw parallel to the ground, holding your left arm straight for better control and to reduce the chance of kickback.
  • Keep both hands on the saw while it is running.
  • Avoid cutting above mid-chest height.
  • Never try to cut a tree with a diameter greater than the length of the chainsaw blade.
  • Be extremely careful when cutting limbs or stems of trees that are bent or under tension; the branch can spring back into the operator.
  • Carry the saw below the waist with the engine off and bar pointed to the rear.
  • Do not work alone. Have a companion nearby and keep bystanders and helpers at a safe distance.

Communication & Recovery

  • Follow the City of Orlando on Twitter @citybeautiful and Facebook for immediate updates and resources.
  • Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.
  • Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.
  • Photograph the damage to your property in order to assist in filing an insurance claim.
  • Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property, (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof), as insurance may not cover additional damage that occurs after the storm.