Storm and Tornado Safety

Don't wait until storms arrive to prepare for severe weather! Here's how you can prepare to protect yourself, your family and your property.

STEP 1: Get Indoors

Allen Fire Department recommends purchasing a battery-powered NOAA all-hazards weather radio which activates when it receives a radio signal from the National Weather Service. These radios can be kept in your vehicle, in your home, or carried while camping or attending outdoor events to alert you to severe weather in your area.

To provide additional warning to people who are outdoors, Allen operates 26 outdoor warning sirens that sound during severe weather events. You may not hear them inside as air conditioning, thunder, wind, rain and other conditions can drown out the sound. Sirens are activated for:

  • Hail greater than 1 inch in size
  • Winds greater than 70 mph
  • Tornado warnings from the National Weather Service naming Allen in the path

Lightning above trees in a dark sky

Being outdoors is the most dangerous place to be during a lightning storm. If a storm is approaching, go indoors or take shelter in a hard-topped vehicle. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning.

STEP 2: Find shelter

When a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter indoors immediately. Stay weather aware and be prepared to find shelter inside a designated safe space as thunderstorms can produce a tornado with little or no warning.

Tornado safe spaces


  • Homes and small buildings: Go to an interior room on the lowest level, such as a closet or bathroom. Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. Crawl under a sturdy surface, such as a heavy table or desk. Cover yourself with thick padding, such as blankets or a mattress. Use your arms to cover your head and neck to protect against flying debris.
  • Schools, hospitals, factories and shopping centers: Go to interior rooms and halls on the lowest level. Stay away from glass-enclosed places or areas with wide-span roofs, such as auditoriums and warehouses. Crouch down and cover your head and neck. Centrally located stairwells are good shelter.
  • Cars and mobile homes: Most storm-related deaths occur in cars and mobile homes. If you have advanced warning of impending storms, leave them and go to a substantial structure or shelter.
  • No suitable structure: Lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression and use your hands to cover your head. Be alert for flash floods! 

STEP 3: Seek information


The best source for weather warnings is an NOAA all-hazards weather radio which activates when it receives a radio signal from the NWS. You can put the radio near your bed to wake you up if you’re asleep, and there’s adaptive technology available for people with vision or hearing impairments. View NOAA radio frequencies.

Backup options include:

Emergency information for hearing and sight impaired populations

Northeast Texas Public Health District has created both video and written information on eighteen emergency preparedness topics to serve deaf, blind and limited sight populations. The information is available for public use, free of charge, on the Accessible Emergency Information website.

STORM SAFETY RESOURCES

Helpful links for parents, teachers and individuals