Each year, hundreds of health care facilities across the nation respond to tornado emergencies with limited warning of potentially catastrophic events. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were nearly 1,200 confirmed tornado reports in 2023. While much of this activity occurs in the South and Midwest, often referred to as Tornado Alley, numerous tornadoes also impacted other locations across the country where tornadic activity is generally considered rare. Locations in California, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were all affected by tornadoes in 2023. In one case, an EF-3 tornado caused significant damage along a 16-mile path in Lewis County, New York, the county's strongest tornado on record.
As tornadic activity is already making headlines this spring, long term care facilities should be assessing their preparedness for such events. This includes reviewing procedures, mitigating hazards, providing training, and testing plans through drills and exercises. Tornadoes are a unique emergency event requiring comprehensive procedures specifically tailored to an organization's needs, resources, and capabilities.
Consider some of these key questions while self-assessing your organization's readiness:
- Do you have specific procedures that address response actions for when a Tornado Watch or Tornado Warning is issued in your area?
- Have you identified designated interior rooms or hallways on the lowest level of the building that can serve as tornado shelter spaces?
- Are tornado alerts included in your emergency preparedness training program, including how to receive severe weather notifications and how to assist residents with sheltering in the building?
- Do you maintain a weather alert radio or monitor NOAA
Weather Radio in a constantly attended location to ensure you receive timely communications of weather watches and warnings?
- Have you identified where you will place exterior furniture, signs, and other outdoor items if there is the potential for them to be swept away or become projectiles?
- Are utility shut-off locations clearly identified, with tools and instructions available, so that any staff member can access these locations around the clock if they need to be shut off during an emergency?
- Do you have a full building evacuation plan that includes an agreement with a local stop-over/staging location if immediate evacuation is required?
- Do you have agreements with other healthcare providers, both neighboring and distant, if you cannot return to your building in the short term?
- Do you maintain essential supplies to support a prolonged need to shelter in place, such as water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and medications?
- Do you have a quick and reliable method to communicate with staff and resident families to provide information and instructions?
The National Weather Service (NWS) provides numerous tornado safety resources. They can be accessed directly at
Tornado Safety (weather.gov). Additionally, you can find a variety of helpful emergency preparedness tools and resources on AHCA's emergency preparedness webpage at
Emergency Preparedness (ahcancal.org).