For most of us, March is a month to look forward to. The first signs of spring have started to appear, the air is fresh and the weather is finally pleasant once again.

While most are excited to ditch the winter coat for the next few months, that excitement is equally matched by trepidation in tornado prone areas. March, after all, is the start of tornado season. Tornadoes are a force of nature, dangerous natural events that are far more destructive than the “cutesy” tornado antics we loved watching when Tasmanian Devil ran rampant in the Looney Tunes. Tornadoes cause millions of damage in property, creating swirling winds that reach as high as 300 mph.

As such, people die every year from tornado disasters. So, the next time you hear a tornado siren blare loudly in your city or town, be sure that you are ready to leap to action. One of the worst mistakes you can make is thinking that tornadoes don’t affect you, simply due to the fact that you don’t live in the tornado-stricken Midwestern areas, commonly called Tornado Alley.

Tornadoes can reach as far as New York, and it is not unheard of for New York City itself to experience tornadoes. No matter where you live, tornado survival skills are essential when an unexpected tornado disaster strikes. This guide provides you with all the essential details you need to get through the next tornado you encounter.