Tornado Safety Tactics

How to Survive During a Tornado

There are several precautionary steps you and your family can take to try and protect yourselves should the unthinkable happen. If you happen to live in Tornado Alley, you learn to be prepared, and to keep a vigilante watch on weather during tornado season, as they can form suddenly and strike quickly; you will not have much preparation time in advance of a storm like there be may with hurricane.

In The event of a Tornado you should first heed any local or government warnings. If you are ordered to evacuate your area – DO IT! If you hesitate, lives may be lost. Knowing where you can go for safe harbor during a tornado ahead of time is crucial for survival. Check with your local emergency disaster plan office and know the locations of shelters and secure locations you and your family can take cover in. In addition the following outline of precautionary steps should be followed:

If you are in a home, or apartment when a tornado strikes:
Make your way to the lowest floor in your home, into a small centered room and away from windows such as a closet or bathroom, interior hallway, beneath a stairwell, without windows. Keep yourself low to the floor, keeping face down; and protect your head with your hands and arms. You bath tube may also provide some protection as well. In order to protect yourself from possible falling debris, furniture and other items, you should attempt to cover yourself with think padding like quilts, pillows, sleeping bags, or your mattress.

If you are at the office when a tornado strikes:
Quickly move to the most enclosed, space in the center of the building that does not have windows. Then, get close to the ground and protect your head from failing objects. The fire escape stairway may also be a good place to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get quickly down to a lower level of the structure. Do not use elevators or windows to escape.

If you are in a mobile home when a tornado strikes:
Mobile homes are one of the worst places you can find yourself if in the path of a tornado. You need to immediately evacuate your mobile home. Even if your home is secured well, you are most likely safer outdoors, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter in the open. Tornados destroy well constructed and newer buildings, and will toss your mobile home around with relative ease destroying everything inside, and if occupied causing serous injury or even death. Utilize your community tornado shelter, or seek shelter in a nearby more sturdy structure or building. Otherwise, get close to the ground, protecting your head away from cars, trees, and other objects that could be caught flying around.

If you are in school when a tornado strikes:
Any drills that are in place should be followed. Instructors and teachers should have knowledge of the best place to retreat to within the ground during a tornado. This will most likely be an interior hallway or space that is not near windows or unsecured objects.

If you are in a vehicle when a tornado strikes:
Being caught in a car or truck while in the midst of a tornado is extremely dangerous. If you are able to visually see the tornado, and it remains far away, and traffic is not heavy, by driving in right angles away from the tornado you may be able to escape. If the tornado is close you should abandon the car in a safe manner and place. And get out and seek shelter in a sturdy structure or building. If none are available, go to an open area and lay your body flat to the ground protecting your head from flying debris.