Tornado season has arrived in Iowa

With the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, most Iowans are concerned about illness, but spring is also prime time for another kind of disaster: tornadoes.

Walt Jackson, Emergency Management Coordinator for Henry County said tornadoes can happen any time but spring seems to be the most popular. The air shifting from being warm to cool makes the difference, he said.

As far as designated areas, tornadoes can happen anywhere, he said. Their patterns are random and simply form when the conditions are right.

In case of a tornado, the National Weather Service will issue a watch then a warning. Depending on the severity, the county will then relay that message as well.

'As we meet certain criteria we will set off the outdoor weather sirens for people who are outdoors so they know to get inside,” he said.

The criteria can range from wind speeds of 70 mph or greater, a circling motion in the clouds or other indicators on the radar, he said.

A tornado watch and tornado warning are two terms used commonly during tornado season but have two very different meanings. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) website, a watch is used when conditions are right for a tornado. During a tornado watch, citizens are to listen to weather radios or local broadcasting to determine next steps.

'The watch is intended to give you time to prepare and time to review your safety rules,” it says.

A tornado warning is the next step and will only be issued when a developing tornado has been detected by the NWS radar, or a reliable report, the website states. Warnings are typically issued for portions of or one or two counties and last for an hour or less.

'The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or workplace, you should seek safe shelter immediately,” the website states.

Once a warning is officially in place, Jackson recommends finding an interior room with no windows. Bathrooms are usually chosen for this reason, he said.

Those with a basement are encouraged to seek shelter there. If the home has no basement, the lowest level of the home is the safest option, he said.

Because tornadoes can happen quickly, Jackson suggests creating a plan beforehand. That way when panic strikes there is a plan in place that can be followed.

Marissa Reisen, Emergency Management Coordinator for Washington County said having a plan is most important.

'I remember growing up we wouldn't just go to the basement, we would go to the nook under the stairs to have that extra level of protection,” she said.

Reisen recommends creating a go-kit with necessary supplies such as activities for kids, flashlights and first-aid materials in case of a tornado. Bike helmets can be put on kids and everyone in the house should put on shoes as well, she said.

'That would help protect you from anything that's falling or flying,” she said.

Keeping up the habit of safety year-round and not just during tornado season is important too, she said. By practicing the set plan, confidence can be built and any problems that arise can be ironed out before a real emergency arises.

'Just like with fire drills and tornado drills at school, go ahead and practice them. Get the kids used to getting ready in a hurry and work out any kinks during the practice run and not during the emergency,” she said.

For those in a car, Jackson suggests getting in a low lying ditch and laying as flat to the ground as possible.

Tornadoes vary every time so there is no real way to determine how long they have lasted, he said.

'Normally they're pretty quick. Length wise they can go anywhere from just touching down to three to four miles on the ground. So that's one of those things you can't answer because it varies,” he said.

The best way to determine if the coast is clear is to keep a weather radio or access to a local media station nearby. For smartphone users, Henry, Jefferson and Washington counties all offer alert systems through the count websites.

The alerts notify users of emergencies, including weather activity, in each county. The free system can send a text, call, email or all three to those who sign up.

'It doesn't matter if you just have a cellphone or you just have a landline, we can still get that info to you,” Reisen said.