In the past two years, a total of 62 tornadoes have hit Virginia. Do you know what to do in a tornado?

More than a million Virginians participated in the commonwealth’s recent tornado drill on Tuesday, March 12. Now that the South has entered prime time for tornadic activity, it’s time for a refresher course on what to do when a tornado strikes.

First, you should always have a plan. Know where to seek shelter in your home—you may have only seconds to get there. It’s also a good idea to make a plan for your office and other places you may frequent, like the grocery store. And quiz your kids on their plan at school to reinforce those key safety messages.

Second, always tune into radio, TV, or mobile warnings for updates. You should also stay alert for weather patterns you may see or hear, like cloud rotation or lowering from the cloud base, intense wind shifts, or a loud, continuous rumble that doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder does. Not all tornadoes are predictable by weather forecasters.

Third, keep the safety basics in mind:

-          Avoid windows

-          Go to the lowest floor

-          Go to a small central room, like a bathroom or closet or under the stairs

-          Crouch as low as possible to the floor

-          Cover yourself with thick padding like a blanket or mattress

-          Cover your head with your hands

What if you’re in your car? Seek shelter in a building if you have time. If you safely get to an area lower than the roadway, get out of your care and go lie in that area. If  neither of those are possible, stay in your car with your seat belt on, and put your head down below the windows and cover your head.

Though in the South, tornado “season” is most active from March to May—and in Virginia can stretch through July—truthfully tornadoes can happen anytime. It’s critical that you and your family are prepared.