The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Test Tornado Watch for Iowa and Nebraska through 11:00 AM as a part of Iowa Severe Weather Awareness Week. This is a good time to review your tornado precautions:

Before the Storm:

• Know the county in which you live and the names of nearby cities.
• Have a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery backup.
• Make sure your family and people in your workplace are familiar with these safety precautions. Review the procedures and practice them.

In a Home or Building:

• Move underneath a table, workbench, or staircase.
• Stay away from the corners of the room because debris is usually displaced into those areas.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned.
• If an underground shelter is not available, move to the lowest, most interior room available.
• Stay away from windows.

In an Office Building, Shopping Mall, or School:

• Go into an interior hallway and crouch on the ground floor against a wall.
• Cover your head with your hands.
• Leave wide-open rooms like gyms, auditoriums, or the common areas of shopping malls.

If you are Caught out in the Open or in a Vehicle:

• Never try to outrun a tornado especially if it is nearby. Tornadoes can move at speeds of over 50 MPH and change directions quickly.
• Highway overpasses are not safe shelters for tornadoes and should be avoided.