Severe Weather in West Texas?

Something coming from the Midwest has prepared me for is the prospect of Severe Weather. I'm not sure how often things get really crazy in the Permian Basin as far as tornados go, or even severe thunderstorms. I do know it's always windy here and that the wind can get out of control crazy--and have heard the hail here ranges from pea sized to softball sized, depending how lucky (or unlucky, as it were) we are at any given moment in a storm.

What I haven't heard is how often tornadic activity is a legitimate threat, and doing research on the topic I have seen a few videos of dust tornados and a funnel cloud that didn't get tremendously close to Midland but was still in Midland County.... One of the stops in my radio career was working in Topeka, Kansas--where the word "tornado" incites an abundance of excitement, rather than a "fear and run for cover" reaction. I've seen people pull out lawn chairs who were close to the action so they could sit and watch it go by.

They say peak tornado season in Texas is April, May and June. Since Severe Weather is in the forecast for Tuesday, I thought it might be a great time to go over tornado protocol should something happen and one land in our region. Of course, do not open windows and stay away from doors and windows. Get to the center-most room of the house like the bathroom, or if your house has a basement--go there... Most in West Texas don't, so take shelter in the inner-most area underneath something sturdy like a kitchen table. There's a lot of bad information out there about what to do if a tornado comes your way--like "look out the window", or "open the windows in the house". Don't do either of those things. Seek shelter immediately.

This is also a great time to think about checking the batteries in flashlights and radios in case you need them, too. Being prepared is the best way to stay safe!