Helene could spawn tornadoes in Savannah area; here are tips for staying safe

People living in areas susceptible to hurricanes know that they have days’ worth of warning about a coming storm.

However, tornadoes fueled by tropical storms form at a moment’s notice, leaving little time to react. That makes planning for the unexpected important.

Forecasters say tornadoes are possible in the Savannah area and South Carolina Lowcountry Thursday through Friday morning as the remnants of Hurricane Helene move through the area.

Here are some tornado safety tips based on information from the American Red Cross and National Weather Service .

Before a tornado

• Identify a safe place in your home where everyone can gather in case of a tornado such as a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
• Sign up for emergency alerts and keep a battery-powered weather radio handy to stay updated on tornado watches and warnings.

During a tornado

• Listen for warning sirens.
• Immediately go to your identified safe place. If you’re in a building, go to the lowest floor and into a room with no windows, like a bathroom or closet. Indoor stairwells also can provide protection. A basement is the best option.
• Get under something sturdy like a heavy table or mattress. Cover your head and neck with your arms.
• Stay away from large open rooms like gyms or auditoriums.
• If you’re outside : Find shelter. If possible, get inside a sturdy building immediately.
• If you’re in a vehicle : If you can’t reach a building, either stay in the car with your seatbelt on, with your head below the windows and head covered; or abandon the car and lie in a low area, like a ditch, away from vehicles.

Stay Informed: Where do you turn for emergency information and services? Here's a list of important contacts

After a tornado

• Stay Informed by listening to local news or a weather radio for updates and instructions.
• Watch out for debris, downed power lines and other hazards when you move around.

John Deem covers climate change and the environment in coastal Georgia. He can be reached at 912-652-0213 or jdeem@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Helene could spawn tornadoes in Savannah area; here are tips for staying safe