The Weather Channel says that at least 39 tornadoes swept across a large portion ofthe Midwest last night, causing damage in Nebraska, Oklahoma,Kansas, and Texas. Students in dorms at the University of Oklahomain Norman had to take cover as weather spotters confirmed a largetornado in the area.

Near Oklahoma City, cars were flipped over and several homeswere destroyed. At the Will Rogers World Airport, travelers wereforced to take shelter in tunnels under the airport.

Drivers along Highway 14 in Lincoln, Kansas, also were warned totake shelter because of a tornado in the area. Moore, Okla., siteof devastating tornadoes in 2013, suffered severe flooding.Hailstones the size of limes hit areas of Oklahoma and even largerhail was reported in other areas. On its website, NewsOKhad multiple images of the devastation, ranging from tornadosightings to damaged and destroyed buildings.

Not even the animals were spared. The Tiger Safari, a privatezoological park in Oklahoma City that houses tigers, bears, lions,kangaroos and other exotic animals was hit and several animalsescaped. Residents were warned at one point to be on the lookoutfor tigers and bears. All of the animals have since been accountedfor, although residents are encouraged to call 911 if they see anyloose animals from the park.

Tornado threat continues through theweekend

Forecasters are predicting multiple days of tornadoes with thethreat continuing throughout the weekend for much of the area knownas Tornado Alley, which covers the southern Plains of the U.S.,including portions of Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and SouthDakota. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) says this area experiences a higher frequency of tornadoesthan the rest of the country – between five to six times thenational average.

May is the most active month for tornadoes, averaging about 277from 1995 to 2014, or approximately nine per day. The April averageis 186 and in June the number drops to around 219. Last year was aparticularly quiet year for tornadoes with only 130 reported inMay.

Warning or watch?

Residents of areas prone to severe storms should be familiarwith tornado terminology. A watch means thattornadoes are possible in the area. A warningmeans that a tornado has been spotted in the area or identified byradar and poses an imminent threat. Individuals in the affectedlocation should take cover immediately in an interior room withoutwindows, a basement or storm shelter. Because flying debris is thegreatest threat from a tornado, protective coverings such asmattresses, sleeping bags or heavy blankets should be used forcover.

In buildings without a basement, NOAA says residents should goto a small interior room or closet, an interior hallway or under astairwell. A bathtub also may offer partial protection. Althoughthere are no safe options for individuals in vehicles, if trafficis light it may be possible to drive out of the path of the tornadoby traveling at a right angle to the storm. Individuals who getcaught by extreme winds should move out of the traffic lanes, stayin the car with the seatbelt on, keep their heads down below thewindows and place a blanket, coat or other covering over theirheads to protect themselves from flying debris. If it's possible toget to an area lower than the roadway, they should leave their carsand lie in that area, covering their heads with their hands. Theyshould not seek shelter under bridges, which offer littleprotection and can frequently become deadly traffic hazards. Moreinformation on where to seek shelter can be found on the NOAAwebsite.