Whether they’re predicted several hours ahead or in a matter of minutes, tornadoes can cause devastation for lives and property damage, as seen from Iowa’s March 5th tornadoes that killed seven people.

Tornadoes are seeming even more unpredictable as the December 15th derecho produced 63 across the state, a record number for any day let alone in December. Tornadoes are Wednesday’s focus for Severe Weather Awareness Week, with a scheduled test warning at 10 a.m. statewide. Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen urges residents to pause and think about what they would do in the instance of a confirmed tornado, “It’s a really good time to say okay, this is where I am right now. Wednesday at 10 a.m. you might normally be at work, kids are at school. Okay, if it happens and I’m here, what do I do? And then take it a step further, if I was at home or if I happened to be traveling for work today, doing something out of the ordinary, what steps would you take to keep yourself safe?”

Reisen says tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm, and an approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. If a tornado is spotted, you should move to a predesignated shelter which should be in a basement, storm cellar, or lowest level of the building, and away from windows. For more tips on preparing and responding to tornadoes, visit here.