Are you ready for severe weather?

YOUNGSTOWN — Do you know what to do when a tornado approaches?

Sometimes there’s little to be done but run to your basement. Or, if you’re outside, quickly find indoor shelter or run into a ditch.

That’s because a tornado can hit with little or no advance warning, said Gary Garnet, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

“Even with our advanced technology, tornadoes can still strike quickly,” he said.

Though a tornado can develop rather quickly, being prepared is vital, said Tamara McBride, an Ohio Emergency Management spokesman in Columbus.

“Preparedness is on the decline even with 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina,” she said. “We should be learning from other states to be prepared. Being prepared and not panicking are the key points.”

Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and vindy.com