What is a tornado emergency? What you should know about rare alarms in Tennessee

As storms rage in Tennessee, thousands are bombarded with tornado warnings and watches on their cell phones.

More than 22 million people in eight states were under a tornado watch Wednesday evening in parts of eight states: Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.

If you live in Middle Tennessee, you may have even seen an unusual warning on your lock screen: Tornado Emergency.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado emergencies for Southern Maury County, Southern Williamson County and Southwestern Rutherford County on May 8th.

“At 5:52 p.m., a confirmed large and destructive tornado was near Spring Hill, 9 miles east of Columbia, moving northeast at 25 mph,” the weather service said.

What is a tornado emergency?

A tornado emergency is the Weather Service’s highest alert level.

This means a large tornado is coming our way and heading toward a populated area. They often cause fatalities, but NWS meteorologist Andrew Moulton told Knox News they are very rare.

“The vast majority of (meteorologists) work their entire career and never spend one,” he said. “I hope I never release anything like this in my career.”

What is the difference between a watch, an alert and an emergency?

You’ve probably heard of tornado watches and warnings.

A watch means being prepared. The NWS directs people to review and discuss emergency plans, check supplies and find a safe space when a watch is issued.

A warning means it is time to see a tornado or appear on weather radar. The NWS recommends moving to an indoor space on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoiding windows.

The same instructions apply to an emergency as to a warning, but as Moulton said, “Not all tornadoes are the same.”

“It’s basically saying, ‘Hey, we know there’s a tornado on the ground. And not just a small tornado,’” Moulton said. “It’s a step up from a basic tornado warning.”

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