# Tornado: American Red Cross > Tornado preparedness and safety guide with alerts and emergency planning tools. (iPhone/iPad app by American Red Cross.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tornado-american-red-cross/id602724318 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [American Red Cross](https://appshunter.io/developer/529160694) - Category: Weather, Utilities - Price: Free - Rating: 3.70/5 from 446 App Store ratings · 54 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 62 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2013-02-20 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tornado-american-red-cross/id602724318/reviews.md ## What is Tornado? **One of CNN's 7 apps to help survive a tornado** Get your family and home ready for a tornado. The American Red Cross tornado app is the complete solution you need to understand and prepare for a tornado and all that comes with it. With interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to be ready! Ahora disponible en español. Features: • Free and available in English and Spanish • Audible siren when NOAA issues a Tornado warning for any of your monitored locations letting you know when it’s time to go to your safe room plus an all-clear alert when the warning expires (Note: Alerts' sounds will NOT override if phone is on vibrate or in sleep mode) • Customizable alerting and push notification options. • Easy to view alert feed with the ability to remove alerts. • Simple step-by-step instructions to help you know what-to-do even if the cell towers and TVs are down. • Prioritized actions for before, during, and after requires no mobile connectivity • Help distant friends and family in tornado alley with ability to receive tornado watch and warning alerts based on their location from NOAA • Map with open Red Cross shelters and other weather-related layers. • Be ready should a tornado hit by learning how to assemble an emergency kit for your family in the event of power outage or evacuation • Reduce your household’s stress and anxiety should a tornado hit by learning to make and practice an emergency plan • Interactive quizzes allow you to earn badges that you can share with your friends and show off your tornado knowledge • Know the difference between a watch and a warning • Learn how to deal with food and water impacted by floods and power outages • Simply let friends/family know you’re safe with customizable “I’m Safe” notification sharable thru social media, text and email • Let others know where you are with the Toolkit’s strobe light, flashlight and audible alert functions ## Key features - Audible tornado siren alerts - Customizable push notifications - Step-by-step emergency instructions - Offline functionality for critical actions - Red Cross shelter map - Emergency kit and plan guidance - "I'm Safe" notification sharing ## What do users think of Tornado? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🚨 Loud, attention-grabbing alert sounds that wake users - ⚡ Faster alerts than sirens and other weather services - 🎯 Customizable alert types and notification radius - 🗺️ Real-time tornado location tracking and visualization - 💰 Free app with no subscription costs - 👤 Multiple location monitoring capability - 🛡️ Life-saving early warnings for tornado alley residents - 📱 User-friendly interface and easy setup - 🔔 Reliable notifications for tornado warnings specifically - 🌐 Accurate NOAA weather data integration **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent failure to send alerts during active warnings - 🔕 Does not override Do Not Disturb mode on iOS - 📍 Location detection errors and confusion - 🔄 Settings reset without user notification - 📢 Too many irrelevant notifications outside monitored area - ⚠️ Confusing distinction between monitored and alert areas - 🚫 Requires excessive permissions (contacts access) - 📊 Misleading 'All is Well' status during active threats - 🔗 Broken support links and poor customer support - 🐛 Buggy UI with database field names displaying instead of labels **Commonly reported bugs** - Location not found error when adding locations from app's own search results - App fails to load alerts without internet connection message despite being connected - Settings and monitored locations deleted after app updates - Daily location access permission prompts despite previous approval - App displays database field names instead of UI labels - Alerts for areas outside monitored radius - No sound alerts when phone is on silent/vibrate mode - Tornado warning cancellations trigger same alert sound as new warnings - Delayed alerts or showing 'All is Well' during active tornado warnings - Contact list defaults to first phone number without selection option **Most requested features** - Critical alerts API support to override Do Not Disturb - County-level monitoring instead of just address-based radius - Batch delete function for alert history - Auto-delete old alerts after specified time period - Ability to choose specific phone numbers from contacts - Email notification option for 'I'm Safe' alerts - Real-time weather map link feature - Distinguish between active warnings and cancelled warnings in notifications - Alert radius adjustment for current location - Ability to silence non-critical alerts while keeping tornado warnings loud ## Recent user reviews (10 of 54) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tornado-american-red-cross/id602724318/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Keep the Tornado App alive! *2023-07-04* It works! Having been warned of threatening storms and tornados, it helped keep myself and family alerted to upcoming events. It would be a colossal mistake to retire it. The new Emergency App is garbage. No decent warnings and I’m constantly signaled about issues outside my area. Tornado is better designed with easy user interface. Please restore it to your customers! ### 4/5 — Developers better upgrade the Emergency app! *2023-03-31* This Tornado app from the ARC is better, faster than the app with which the ARC will replace it. The Tor app is my go-to, and is slower only than the NWS among the public services providers. I wish the Emergency app has a real-time weather map LINK feature, but DONT want to slow down this app with a ginormous function set that would prevent more timely warnings. ARC needs to ensure more effectiveness in its Emergency app ### 5/5 — Keep it going!! *2023-03-31* As an active member of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), I am truly sorry to see that this app is scheduled for destruction. Have used this for years. I have received warnings of danger at my added network’s location. Local warnings:17. The NEW app is sorry to say more wordy but STUPID. It says I have completed all levels of disaster in one spot and only one on another. LABOR INTENSIVE SET UP : maddening. If both remain active BY FAR my choice is original. Thank you for all you do. ### 5/5 — Retiring App *2023-02-27* I am sorry to hear that you all are retiring this app which has proven itself time and time again. I live in tornado alley and I also drive an 18 wheeler. This app has saved my life six times. I just hope that your new app is just as accurate as this one. I’m sorry to see it go I think you all are making a mistake by getting rid of it. ### 5/5 — What about tornado warnings? *2023-02-04, version 3.18.0* I have the Emergency app, but I kept the Tornado app because it had the tornado warning audible alert and siren. Will that be added to Emergency? ### 5/5 — Very accurate and easy to use. *2023-01-13, version 3.16.2* I love this app. I’ve set my radius for 30 miles and when the siren goes off I open and find the tornado to see if it’s a threat to me and then act accordingly. I no longer have to sit and wonder where a tornado might be. I had three siren notices last night and all three times my app went off before my tv broke into the show to tell us a tornado had been spotted. After last night with all the chaos both my daughters put this app on their phones. ### 5/5 — The wait is over!! *2022-11-08, version 3.16.2* I have been looking for an app that can do this for ages, so happy to finally have found it!! Specifically I can set this to blast only the NOAA weather alerts I want (Tornado Warning only) and it will wake me any time of the day or night and leave me alone for the alerts I don’t want. YES!! ### 5/5 — This app will wake you up! *2022-06-25, version 3.16.1* I’m a heavy sleeper, so I got this app as a back up in case I can’t hear a siren. Well, I experienced my first tornado warning last night with the app (no touchdowns near me), and I will say that the that the alert noise is loud and honestly, terrifying. I was still awake when the warning happened, but I have no doubt that this thing will wake me up if something were to happen in the middle of the night. If you live anywhere there are tornadoes, you want this app! ### 1/5 — Simply Fails *2022-06-13, version 3.16.1* It is hard to credit the app any points, as once you attempt to add a location, it fails with an error of location not found. This is shocking sense the app it self provides you a list based on a search, then you select from the app list. The concept is great, the deployment and coding is horrible. ### 5/5 — Alerted us before anything else! *2022-06-09, version 3.16.1* Tornado warning last night, this app alerted before the sirens, and before the other city/county alerts came through! Easy to use ## Frequently asked questions about Tornado ### What does the Tornado app do? The app helps you prepare your family and home for tornadoes. It provides step-by-step instructions for before, during, and after a tornado, interactive quizzes to test your knowledge, and alerts for tornado watches and warnings. It also offers features to help you communicate your safety and find open shelters. ### What are the key features of the Tornado app? Key features include audible siren alerts for tornado warnings, customizable push notifications, step-by-step instructions that work offline, a map of open Red Cross shelters, guidance on assembling emergency kits and making plans, and the ability to share an "I'm Safe" notification with contacts. ### Is the Tornado app free to use? Yes, the app is completely free to download and use. It is provided by the American Red Cross to help people prepare for and stay safe during tornado events. ### What devices is the Tornado app compatible with? The app is available for mobile devices and can be downloaded for use on smartphones and tablets. It is designed to be accessible to a wide range of users preparing for severe weather. ### How can this app help me during a tornado emergency? During a tornado, the app provides critical step-by-step instructions that can be accessed even if cell towers are down. It alerts you to warnings, helps you find shelters, and allows you to quickly notify loved ones that you are safe, reducing stress and anxiety. ## Version history (last 2 releases) ### 3.19 — 2023-04-19 The American Red Cross Tornado app will be retired in the summer of 2023. Download the Emergency app, which offers the same functionality along with tools for other hazards. Text "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999 or search “American Red Cross” in your app store. With this update, we are preparing to help you move the locations you monitor to the new Emergency app. ### 3.18.0 — 2023-01-30 The American Red Cross Tornado app will be retired in Summer of 2023. Download the Emergency app, which offers the same functionality along with tools for other hazards. Text "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999 or search “American Red Cross” in your app store. With this update, we published an announcement along with detailed frequently asked questions about the retirement of the Tornado app. ## Apps similar to Tornado | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Storm Radar: Weather Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storm-radar-weather-tracker/id1216396545) | 4.4 (112,653) | Free | Weather | | [FEMA](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fema/id474807486) | — | Free | Weather | | [My Lightning Tracker & Alerts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-lightning-tracker-and-alerts/id1175031987) | 4.8 (62,220) | Free | Weather | | [National Hurricane Center Data](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/national-hurricane-center-data/id1289108781) | 4.8 (74,944) | Free | Weather | | [My Hurricane Tracker & Alerts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-hurricane-tracker-and-alerts/id1020486515) | 4.8 (66,124) | Free | Weather | | [Tornado Tracker Weather Radar](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tornado-tracker-weather-radar/id1042853134) | 2.9 (74) | Free | Weather | ## More apps by American Red Cross - [First Aid: American Red Cross](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-aid-american-red-cross/id529160691) - [Hurricane: American Red Cross](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hurricane-american-red-cross/id545689128) - [Earthquake: American Red Cross](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earthquake-american-red-cross/id557946227) - [Pet First Aid:](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pet-first-aid/id780415389) - [Swim by American Red Cross](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swim-by-american-red-cross/id785356681) All apps by American Red Cross: https://appshunter.io/developer/529160694 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*