Tornadoes are among the most dangerous disasters. Every year in the United States, natural tornadoes cause billions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses, parks, and personal property. in some tornadoes, dangerous winds and flying objects even injure or kill people. Many tornadoes have winds that travel at speeds faster than racecars! Tornadoes occur when violent storm clouds tilt towards the ground. The cloud becomes a swirling funnel that destroys everything in its path Lightning, heavy rain, and hail often occur with tornadoes. Tornadoes usually occur in the central portion of the United States known as "Tornado Alley" Texas and Oklahoma normally have the highest number of tornadoes, but tornadoes have been reported in every state. Tornadoes are more dangerous than some storms because they are hard to predict. If you think a tornado is near, take cover away from windows. If you don't have a basement or storm cellar, the bathtub may be the safest place to hide.