Late Halloween night, Delaware Countians received a cellphone tornado warning as a tornado whipped through Thornbury, writes Dana Bate for WHYY.org.

Some went back to sleep. Others rushed to basements. Still others wondered, “OK, so … what am I supposed to do now?”

Simple answer, said Montgomery County Outreach Coordinator Tim Elberston: Heed the warning.

“There’s a reason you’re getting an alert,” he said. “It’s not such a broad-brush advisory anymore. It’s saying, ‘Look, this is a specific geographic area that is under a specific threat. Please listen to what we’re saying and take action.’”

When a tornado warning is issued it means radar or a spotter has confirmed a tornado is on the ground or imminent.

If you live in one of those areas, take cover; preferably in the basement or an interior part of the house away from windows; any place that puts as many walls as possible between you and the storm outside.

A tornado watch means be prepared: Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.

A warning, however, means you should take action because a tornado has been identified and there is “imminent danger to life and property.”

Read more about tornado warnings here.

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