Severe Weather Awareness Week in North Carolina, March 1 - 9, 2009

A number of deadly tornadic supercell thunderstorms struck the state, resulting in as many as 10 strong to violent tornadoes. Many of these tornadoes struck at night as everyone slept, catching many individuals off guard despite warning lead times averaging 20 minutes. A recent study of tornadoes found that North Carolina was ranked first in the nation with the greatest percentage of killer night time tornadoes.

• Get In. Get as far inside a strong building as you can, and stay away from windows, which can easily break during strong winds or from flying debris.
• Get Down. Get as low as possible, by going to the lowest floor of the building. A basement or underground shelter is best, if available. By crouching down, you are minimizing the possibility of being hit by flying debris.
• Cover Up. Cover yourself (especially your head) with a pillow, blankets, or even a mattress, to further protect yourself from any flying debris. If possible, get beneath a workbench or table.