Tornadoes can develop quickly and with little warning. Be prepared by knowing the difference between a tornado watch and warning, having multiple ways to receive emergency alerts, and knowing where you will take shelter.
- Tornado Watch
Conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. Stay alert, monitor weather conditions, and be prepared to take shelter. - Tornado Warning
A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Take shelter immediately.
Outdoor warning sirens are designed to alert people who are outdoors that an emergency may be occurring. If you hear a warning siren, go indoors, seek shelter, and check a reliable source for information.
Don't rely on outdoor warning sirens as your only means of receiving emergency information. When indoors, you may not hear the sirens. Sign up for Gurnee Emergency Alerts to receive alerts via email, phone, or mobile app.
During severe weather, do not call 911 for weather information. Keep 911 lines available for emergencies.
Don't rely on outdoor warning sirens as your only means of receiving emergency information. When indoors, you may not hear the sirens. Sign up for Gurnee Emergency Alerts to receive alerts via email, phone, or mobile app.
During severe weather, do not call 911 for weather information. Keep 911 lines available for emergencies.
When a tornado warning is issued:
If you are indoors:
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- Go immediately to a basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of a sturdy building.
- If there is no basement, go to a small interior room without windows, such as a bathroom, closet, or interior hallway.
- Stay away from windows and exterior walls.
- Get under something sturdy, if possible, and protect your head and neck from flying debris.
- Continue monitoring emergency information until the threat has passed.
- Go immediately to a basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of a sturdy building.
If you are outdoors:
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- Seek shelter inside a sturdy building.
- If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, as a last resort, lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area and protect your head and neck.
- Be alert for possible flooding in low-lying areas.
- Do not seek shelter under a highway overpass.
- Seek shelter inside a sturdy building.
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- Do not try to outrun a tornado: Tornadoes can change direction quickly and move faster than cars.
- Do not hide under an overpass: Bridges and highway overpasses do not protect you from flying debris and can actually increase the risk of injury.
- Avoid trees: Never park or seek shelter near trees, which can fall over.
- Do not try to outrun a tornado: Tornadoes can change direction quickly and move faster than cars.
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- If a sturdy building is nearby, drive to the closest safe structure, go inside, and move to an interior room or basement on the lowest floor.
- If you can safely reach a much lower area: Leave the vehicle and lie flat in a nearby ditch, ravine, or low spot on the ground, protecting your head.
- If you cannot safely reach shelter or a lower area, stay in your car with your seatbelt fastened and the engine running so airbags remain active. Get down below the window level and cover your head with your hands, a coat, or a blanket.
- If a sturdy building is nearby, drive to the closest safe structure, go inside, and move to an interior room or basement on the lowest floor.
Plan ahead for an emergency.
- Decide how your family will reconnect if a tornado causes significant damage or family members become separated.
- Choose a safe, familiar meeting place in case you cannot return home or reach one another by phone.
- Designate a relative or friend outside the immediate area as a family contact, and make sure everyone knows how to reach that person.
- Consider keeping important contact information written down in case a phone is lost, damaged, or unavailable.
Gurnee's outdoor warning sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of each month at approximately 10:00 a.m.