What does the government do to help after a tornado has happened?

Here's what the government does when there is a tornado.

First the National Weather Service (NWS) analyzes weather data such as atmospheric pressure, wind speed a nd direction at different altitudes, humidity, temperatures and other necessary information. From that data they make predictions about likely weather situations including the possibility of a tornado.

When the conditions are right for a possible tornado, state and local governments monitor weather information and put into effect the emergency plan for plotting and observing severe storms. The NWS monitors conditions and radar, giving live updates and disseminating tornado warnings and watches. State and local government then shares these announcements on the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). Local government activates its Skywarn system of trained weather spotters to view the storms and look for signs of storm rotation, wall clouds and tornadic downspouts. This information given as updates to State and Local emergency management to keep storm information updated through the EBS.

During the storm, State and Local police and emergency agencies prepare for possible rescue and casualties, firefighting and emergency clearing of debris. Their information and action is coordinated through a State or Local Emergecy Operations Center that collects information and directs coordinated response to the tornado.

If a tornado or tornadic severe storm causes more damage than State and Local governments can deal with, the governor of the state must submit a Disaster Declaration request to the President of the United States to initiate Federal assistance to the affected area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency then sends out Damage Assessment Teams to determine the scope of the disaster. That feedback, along with the size of the affected population is documented and determines whether FEMA is activated.

Upon activation, FEMA, which coordinates the response of 28 Federal agencies from the Corps of Engineers to the Environmental Protection Agency to the Small Business Administration and more coordinates with and at the direction of the affected State and provides assistance to meet the needs of communities. FEMA assists in the form of funds, manpower, equipment, food, water, health care, expertise and other needed assistance.

FEMA is either pre staged or immediately boots on the ground as soon as the Disaster Declaration is made.

In the past, FEMA coordinates with the State by providing a 75/25 match, which means that FEMA pays for 75 percent of disaster expenses and the State provides 25 percent assistance. In catastrophic disasters, this formula may change.

On the ground FEMA sets up a Joint Field Office (JOF) and Disaster Assistance Centers in specific areas for disaster survivors to apply for help from the government. These centers often include representatives from other federal and state agencies, community agencies (DMV, Protective Services and County Clerk) Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) (like American Red Cross and Mennonite Disaster Services), Mental Health counselling and any other helpful organization which chooses to be represented.

FEMA continues to work on Recovery and Mitigation, that is taking actions that would lesson the effects of a similar event in the future, for anywhere from three to ten years. They continue to work with the State on funding repairs of roads, bridges, public buildings and utilites damaged by disaster. Until recently, FEMA's goal for assisting disaster survivors was to get the first personal assistance checks out within 10 days of the declaration.

And that is pretty much how all of government deals with a tornado or any other disaster.