Skip to Content

Tornado

Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris.  Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground.  Tornadoes can happen anytime and anywhere, bring intense winds and look like funnels.

IMMEDIATE ACTION

Green background with white text providing immediate actions to take during tornadoes

Seek shelter immediately.

Move to the lowest level in building.

Move to interior area of building (hallways/rooms)

Stay away from windows, skylights and glass.

PREPARE NOW

KNOW THE SIGNS OF A TORNADO. Rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar.

GET THE APP, GET THE INFO. Download the Carleton Mobile App and enable notifications. This will allow any emergency notification system messages to be delivered to your phone. Download the Environment Canada WeatherCAN App to receive notifications about local weather statements, watches, and warnings.

IDENTIFY SAFE SHELTER. Small, interior, windowless room on the lowest level of a building are identified as providing the best protection.

SURVIVE DURING

SHELTER.  Immediately go to a safe location.

COVER. Shield your head and neck with your arm and put materials such as furniture and blankets around you.

LISTEN.  Stand-by for further instructions. Carleton University will use the Emergency Notification System to address the emergency and relay additional instructions.

** DO NOT try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.

If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.

BE SAFE AFTER

REMAIN PATIENT. Do not leave the safety of a shelter until authorities announce it is safe to do so.

IF YOU ARE TRAPPED. Cover your mouth with a cloth, try to call Campus Safety Services.  Bang on a pipe or wall, or create noise by any means possible.

SEEK HELP TO COPE WITH TRAUMA. Consider seeking professional help to cope with the long-term effects of trauma.