How to Teach Tornado Safety for Kids
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When I was a kindergarten teacher in Louisiana we had a tornado get fairly close to my school. Thankfully, it was after school hours, but it still knocked power out for multiple days. I didn’t grow up around tornadoes but was suddenly VERY aware of tornado safety for kids.
Of course, a school in tornado alley had a plan to keep everyone safe in the event of a tornado. We need to do that at home too. Drills might not be needed, because the logistics of moving a family across a house are a little simpler than moving a classroom full of students through a school, but kids need to know how to stay safe.
Taking the time to make sure that your children know what to do in the event of a tornado is important. My kids are 12 and 15 now, but I still make a point to have a discussion about tornado safety every spring, the typical tornado season in North Carolina.
Tornadoes are scary, in part because of the feeling of helplessness. I’m sure not knowing what to do makes tornadoes even scarier.
These resources will help you teach tornado safety for kids.
How to Teach Tornado Safety for Kids
Books About Tornadoes
Books are one of my favorite ways to teach. You don’t need to have all the right words or information off the top of your head. You just need to find a few books. These books about tornadoes will help introduce the subject, but they are also an easy way to review the info each year. Just toss these books in a book basket by the couch and you are ready to snuggle and read.
Last update on 2026-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tornadoes! by Gail Gibbons gives kids a good general overview about tornadoes. It covers:
- What causes tornadoes
- The EF tornado rating system
- A few noteworthy tornadoes
- What to do in the event of a tornado
It is a quick read with just enough information to teach tornado safety for kids.
Tornadoes: All About Their Formation, Destruction, Warning Signs, and More! by Seymour Simon
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This book about tornadoes is packed full of facts. Kids will learn all about how tornadoes form, super cells, famous tornadoes, the rating system, common (and potentially dangerous) myths, and safety tips.
Understanding how these storms form is great, but tornado safety for kids is more important. Knowing what to do and what not to do in the event of a tornado can save lives.
Lily: A True Story of Courage and the Joplin Tornado by Carolyn E. Mueller
Last update on 2026-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This true story features Lily, a search and rescue dog, and her owner. They tell what happened to their community after a horrible tornado hit. They saw plenty of destruction and damage, but they also saw helpers. Communities always seem to come together after tragic events and tornadoes are no exception.
Part of teaching tornado safety for kids is encouraging/requiring them to have sturdy shoes like tennis shoes or boots nearby in case of a storm. In my family, we always keep tennis shoes in a basket near one of our doors. This is near the shelter spot in our home so we can quickly grab them.
This is reinforced by a small detail in the story. Lily gets a bit of glass in her paw while walking through storm damage. Her owner helps her and she recovers, but including it in the story makes the possibility of sharp objects on the ground ‘real’ for kids.
The Tornado Scientist: Seeing Inside Severe Storms by Mary Kay Carson
Last update on 2026-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book is a little different from the others listed for two reasons:
- It is a nonfiction chapter book
- It follows a meteorologist and storm chaser
It could be a great choice for older kids who are very interested in learning about tornadoes. The chapter book format makes it easy to find specific information. It might also spark an interest in meteorology.
Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long
- Otis and his farm friends play their favorite game, follow the leader.
- The wind picks up, and the sky turns dark and stormy. It’s a tornado!
- Otis plays the game to get all of the farm animals to safety.
Last update on 2026-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This picture book features Otis the tractor. He lives on a farm with his animal friends. One day a tornado comes to town. The farm family members go to their storm cellar, but the animals and Otis are left outside. Otis thinks quickly and gets all of the animals to safety.
This book might be a good choice for:
- Kids who are scared by factual tornado stories. The fictional tale is a gentle introduction to the topic.
- Reinforcing what to do if you are outside without access to a building during a tornado (for example at a park). Otis gets the animals to the lowest point, which is a smart idea.
- Little ones who enjoy reading stories about farm animals and tractors.
Tornado Experiment
This tornado experiment is a great way for kids to visualize these powerful storms.
Most tornado experiments I see online require two 2-liter bottles. There is only one problem. I never have 2-liter bottles hanging around my house. This version uses a mason jar instead and I have plenty of those.
This tornado experiment takes only minutes and is so easy even little ones can do it.
Videos About Tornadoes for Kids
Some kids learn best from videos. Teaching in multiple ways makes tornado safety for kids attainable, regardless of learning style.
Meteorologist James Spann shares information about how tornadoes form in this kid-friendly cartoon. It is only 4 minutes long, so it is perfect for short attention spans.
Ted-Ed is always one of the first places I look for high quality educational videos for kids. The internet is full of misinformation, but I trust Ted-Ed to share accurate information.
Curiosity Stream is an educational video streaming service. My family signed up about 1.5 years ago. It is a handy homeschool resource when I’m looking for documentary-style videos.
There are a few videos about tornadoes:
Tornado Season
Wild Weather
Innovation Nation (Tornado Tech)
Create a Tornado Safety Plan
Do not skip this step!
Creating a tornado safety plan is an important part of teaching tornado safety for kids. This gets the entire family on the same page in regards to safety. Everyone can act quickly in a true emergency if they know exactly what to do and where to go.
Having a tornado safety plan also helps keep the kids safe if they are home alone or with a babysitter when a tornado hits.
A tornado safety for kids plan includes:
- Where to go
- What to do
- What to bring
Where to go – According to Weather.gov, the safest places in a tornado are:
- Basement or storm cellar
- Interior room away from windows
- If you are outside, go to a sturdy building if one is available or get down in the lowest level available.
My house doesn’t have a basement or any interior rooms without windows. We make do with what we have though. A closet on the first floor is likely better a large open room with tons of windows.
What to do –
During a tornado watch (conditions are right for a tornado) – Think through your day/evening and make any necessary changes. Changes might include staying with kids at a sporting practice rather than dropping them off or leaving one parent home with the kids instead of leaving them home alone. This is a good time to remind our family of tornado safety for kids.
I also like to make sure electronic devices and phones are charged in case we lose power.
During a tornado warning (there is a tornado expected very soon) – Now is the time to put your plan into action!
Get everyone, pets included, to the safe spot as quickly as possible. If you have time bring supplies. Stay there until the storm has passed and officials give the all-clear.
What to bring – The most important thing is to get the people and animals to safety. If you have time bring supplies, but don’t put yourself in danger getting things. Possible supplies include:
- Hard-soled shoes, like tennis shoes
- Helmets
- Prescriptions
- Quick snack (I grab a box of Lara bars from my pantry)
- Diapers and wipes if you have babies
- Cell phones
- Weather radio
I pile these things in the corner of our safe space when I first notice the tornado watch.
Getting ready for a tornado feels like a hurry up and wait situation. We hurry to get everyone into a safe spot and then we just wait to see what happens. Hopefully, the storm dies out or passes without issue.
Share this post so other families can also consider tornado safety for kids!
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