The City of Sugar Land would like to ensure that all residents are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves from tornadoes. Listed below you will find the latest advisories and warnings, messages from the City, and links to helpful tips on how you can keep yourself and your family safe during a tornado.

Things to Remember

Tornados may develop with little or no warning as a storm system moves into the area. Sugar Land does not have a siren warning system, so stay tuned to radio and television. Sophisticated weather radar may detect the presence of tornadic activity in a storm before a funnel develops. If a tornado warning is issued:

• “Go low, and get low” means go to the lowest level of the structure you’re in, crouch in a low position and cover your head to protect it.
• In your home, take cover in the center part of the house on the lowest floor in a small room, such as a closet or bathroom.
• Don’t waste time opening windows in buildings. This serves no purpose and exposes people to possible flying glass.
• If you are in a manufactured building, leave the structure even if it has a tie-down system. If there is no designated shelter in the mobile home park, take cover in a low protected area.
• If you’re caught in your car, leave it and seek shelter in a nearby substantial building (if one is available) or lie flat in a close ditch or ravine. Never try to outrun a tornado in your car.
• A tornado may cause downed power lines, broken gas lines, overturned vehicles and other hazards.

Lightning Storms

• If you see lightning, watch closely to determine if the storm is approaching.
• If you can hear thunder or see a bolt strike the ground, you are within 10 to 15 miles of a storm. This is a high danger zone and you should move to a safe location within a building.
• Avoid using equipment or phones because energy from lightning may follow electric or telephone wires.
• Television sets are particularly dangerous at this time.
• Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressors.
• Avoid the bathtub, water faucets and sinks because metal pipes can conduct electricity. If you’re outdoors, observe the following safety rules:
• Try to get into a building or a vehicle.
• If no structure is available, get to an open space and squat as low to the ground as possible, covering your head.
• If you’re in an area with trees, find an area protected by low clumps of trees. Never stand underneath a single large tree in the open.
• Stay away from tall structures, such as trees, phone lines or power lines.
• Stay away from natural lightning rods, such as golf clubs, tractors, fishing rods, bicycles, metal bats or camping equipment.
• Avoid rivers, lakes or other bodies of water.
• If you feel your hair stand on end (an indication that lightning is about to strike), bend forward, putting your hands on your knees. Don’t lie flat on the ground.

If you’re in your car during a lightning storm, pull onto the shoulder and stay in the vehicle. Don’t touch any metal on the inside of your vehicle.

Relevant Links

• Ready.Gov