National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Continues for the East and South-Central U.S.; Strong to Severe Storms Across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

The extremely dangerous heat wave continues across the East Coast and much of the South-Central U.S. today. Record high temperatures are expected for some areas especially across the Mid-Atlantic where extreme heat risk conditions reside. There is a Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms today for the northern Mid-Atlantic into portions of southern New England. Read More >

you possibly can. Avoid rooms that may be damaged by falling trees.
If you are in a manufactured home, you should abandon the home in favor of a pre-determined sturdier shelter. This may be a frame home or underground shelter owned by a neighbor, or a community storm shelter. Even weak tornadoes can flip or otherwise cause significant damage to manufactured homes, especially if they are not securely tied down.
If you are caught outside, you should seek out a sturdy shelter, such as a home or office building. If shelter is not immediately available, make an attempt to drive to one. If you encounter flying debris while driving, pull over and park your vehicle. If at all possible, do not park under trees or power lines. At this point you should a.) with seat belt fastened, duck your head below the level of the windows, covering your head with your hands and a blanket OR b.) if it is obvious that you can get below the level of the road, abandon the vehicle and lie down in the lowest spot, making sure to cover your head.
Once you are in your shelter, find a stationary object, such as a workbench, or a sturdy piece of furniture to shelter under. If you are in a bathroom, take shelter in the tub. Cover yourself with heavy blankets, a mattress, or something similar to protect you body from flying debris. Assume the tornado protection position, taking special care to protect your head.

Fig. 16. Regardless of where you take shelter, you should assume the tornado protection position, making yourself as small a target as possible and protecting your head and face.

Fig. 15. A tornado approaches the south side of the Clemson University campus on August 26, 2008. The EF1 tornado caused minor damage in the area around Memorial Stadium just before lifting. Photo courtesy of Rob Harrison, South Carolina Dept Nat. Res.

Table 4. Killer tornadoes reported in the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia since 1950.
County Date Deaths Time Rating
Spartanburg-SC May 10, 1952 2 1400 F3
Abbeville-SC March 31, 1973 7 1820 F4
Greenwood-SC December 13, 1973 2 1430 F4
Gaston-NC April 2, 1974 1 0153 F1
Graham-NC April 3, 1974 2 2100 F2
Spartanburg-SC May 5, 1989 2 1620 F4
Lincoln-NC May 5, 1989 4 1654 F4
Union-NC May 5, 1989 1 1801 F4
Chester-SC April 16, 1994 1 0111 F2
Franklin-GA September 16, 2004 1 1645 F2
Iredell-NC November 15, 2006 1 2345 F2
Rabun-GA April 27, 2011 1 2300 F3
York-SC November 16, 2011 3 1830 EF2
Union-SC April 3, 2017 1 1421 EF1
Oconee-SC April 13, 2020 1 0321 EF3

 

Fig. 17. Even a typically weak Carolinas tornado can produce significant damage, including lifting and tossing vehicles. This photo was taken in the parking lot of Liberty Elementary School in Liberty, SC after an EF1 tornado briefly touched down on January 5, 2007. Photo courtesy of the Pickens Sentinel.