What to do when a tornado warning has been issued

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Ameren Illinois: 1-800-755-5000

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Certain repairs must be completed before service can be safely restored.

Residents who need to repair customer-owned facilities, such as the meter base, weatherhead or point of attachment, should have this work performed by a professional electrical contractor. Learn more.

What to do when a tornado warning has been issued

In Illinois, April showers often bring more than May flowers. Every year, an average of 41 tornadoes hit Illinois, most frequently between April and June.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency advises you to take the following actions when a tornado warning has been issued, sirens have been activated, or a tornado has been sighted near your area:

Take shelter immediately in the lowest level of the home or building. Stay there until the danger has passed.
If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a small inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.
Go to the center of the room. Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table, and hold onto it. Use pillows, mattresses or cushions to protect your head and neck.
If in a mobile home, get out and seek shelter elsewhere, well before the storm arrives. If there isn't a substantial shelter nearby, go to a low-lying area, and shield your head with your hands.

For more information, visit the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Web site