ask for questions to pete spotts, staff writer at "christian science monitor." tweets come in. smartphones have the weather apps, and mary says one thing if you are hearing a siren, do not pass go, cover immediately. it could mean your life. let's talk about how you actually protect yourself if you do hear one of these warnings. when you look at the severe damage that was done in joplin, missouri, are there building codes and things coming into place that can help protect people when a hurricane hits? >> guest: yeah, the tornado -- it's kind of a challenging question in a couple of ways. i mean the tweet talked about sirens. interestingly in joplin, missouri, the warning sirens went off it was about 25 minutes before the tornado struck. they ran for about three minutes and then they shut off. it was the last that anybody heard of warning sirens until the tornado actually struck. so the -- you know, the tweeter is right. if you hear the siren, take shelter now. don't fool around. unfortunately, one the things that social scientist are finding out, social science researchers, is

pete spotts, one of our tweeters says she feels guilty for not getting the weather alert radio. i need one here in georgia. pete spotts is a staff writer "inside the funnel: learning more about twisters, where they come and where they are going" is helping to save lives. thanks for joining us. >> guest: thanks for having me. >> host: we appreciate it. that's all for "washington journal." we'll be back at 7:00 eastern time tomorrow. we'll now go to the floor of house of representatives. they are going to be in for morning hour in just a moment. we'll also be following with the senate today you can catch it on c-span and c-span2 and as always find us online at c-span.org. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's room washington, d.c. may 16 2012. i hereby appoint the honorable joe barton to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, john a. boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the order of the house of january 17, 2012, the c

and tomorrow on "washington journal," reporter pete spotts for the christian science monitor this weeknment's role on researching and predicting tosheds. you can read the article at cs monitor.com/environment and join us for our spotlight on magazine segment. we will take your comments and questions about twisters, part of our spotlight on magazines tomorrow on "washington journal." well, the u.s. house will be gaveling in momentarily and they will take up this afternoon some 11 suspension bills including one that will encourage the creation of a blue alert plan. this would get out information when a police officer is killed or injured in the line of duty. look for debate this afternoon and votes at 6:30. after 6:30 eastern in the u.s. house and then later this week in the house they will take up the -- reauthorizing the violence against women act and also the fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill. debate on that expected tomorrow. the senate, meanwhile, is wrapping up work on re-authorizing the u.s. export-import bank. there are a number of votes under way. you can follow that on our