Know Your Safe Spot Before Tornado Season Hits

Did you know that the average time between when a tornado warning is issued and when a tornado actually hits an area is merely sixteen minutes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)?

Although sixteen minutes is more notice than some areas have received in the past in Oklahoma's tornado history, think to yourself: are you prepared to leave, if you must, with everyone and everything you need in just sixteen minutes?

The National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma is urging Oklahomans to pay close attention to warnings of an active weather weekend. "Don't wait until the day of the storm to protect yourself," they wrote in a recent Facebook post. Instead, folks should begin planning before severe weather strikes.

Can your safe spot take a hit?

One major decision every resident in Oklahoma needs to be prepared to make when severe weather strikes is where they need to go to stay safe. Majority of Oklahomans do not own a storm shelter and the majority of homes in Oklahoma are detached single-family homes.

There are numerous amounts of mobile homes, trailer homes and other insecure structures, throughout the state as well.

Though families can do their best by locating the lowest-level, innermost room away from windows, the odds are not good in mobile homes. In fact, the National Weather Service has researched that families are 15-20 times more likely be killed in a mobile/manufactured home compared to a permanent home.

@junefirstweather NEVER shelter in a mobile/trailer home during a tornado warning!! Mobile homes are highly susceptible to being flipped/tossed in tornadic wind events. If a tornado warning is issued, go immediately to the nearest public shelter or well-built permanent structure. #weather #wx #stem #science #safety #fyp #tornado #home #construction #education #educational #hurricane #wind #hail ♬ original sound - June First

In cases such as May 20, 2013, there was no way for folks in trailer homes to survive a run in with a tornado like that.

Weather reporters that day were persistent about getting to a storm cellar or underground when the EF5 tornado was approaching.

"The only way you're going to guarantee you will survive is if you are out of the way, below ground, storm cellar, or basement safe room - that's it, that's the only thing that's gonna do it," KFOR Weather Reporter Mike Morgan had said that day.

Consider to yourself: are you prepared to make the decision to load up and leave if the time ever came? If so, where would you go?

If you were to leave, do you know where to go - even if you can't see the tornado?

Another problem we've faced frequently this year is the threat of hard-to-see tornadoes. Since the start of 2025, we've seen 39 tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. The majority of these have touched down either in the early morning hours before 8 a.m. or late in the evening after the sun has set.

Are you confident enought to leave your home and drive the roads to safety? That's if you have enough of a notice to leave. But if you're hearing sirens, chances are it isn't safe to drive off and instead you'll need to take shelter where you're at.

Knowing when you should leave and when you can't leave anymore.

Places like Lawton and Duncan use what are called Civil Defense warning sirens. If you hear the sirens go off for three to five minutes straight, there is imminent danger approaching and folks in the area should seek shelter immediately. There would not be ample time hit the road and escape safely.

The notice farther in advance comes from weather app alerts, social media updates and reports from local weather stations and chasers. This is why the National Weather Service stresses for Oklahomans to check their phones before severe weather strikes to make sure that it can receive WEAs and that it's charged.

As you can see, it takes a little more thought to a good safety plan - not something you want to throw together in less than sixteen minutes. What do you consider for your family's safety plan? Share with us through the app!

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