There is no such thing
as guaranteed safety inside a tornado. Freak accidents happen; and the most
violent tornadoes can level and blow away almost any house and its occupants. Extremely
violent EF5 tornadoes are very rare, though. Most tornadoes are actually much
weaker and can be survived using these safety ideas...
Prevention and
practice before the storm: At home, have a family
tornado plan in place, based on the kind of dwelling you live in and the safety
tips below. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and
practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Have a pre-determined
place to meet after a disaster. Flying debris is the greatest danger in tornadoes; so store
protective coverings (e.g., mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc) in or
next to your shelter space, ready to use on a few seconds' notice. When a
tornado watch is issued, think about the drill and check to make sure all your
safety supplies are handy. Turn on local TV, radio or NOAA Weather Radio and
stay alert for warnings. Forget about the old notion of opening windows to
equalize pressure; the tornado will blast open the windows for you! If you shop
frequently at certain stores, learn where there are bathrooms, storage rooms or
other interior shelter areas away from windows, and the shortest ways to get
there. All shopping centers, nursing homes, hospitals, sports arenas, stadiums,
mobile home communities and offices should have a tornado safety plan in place,
with easy-to-read signs posted to direct everyone to a safe, close by shelter
area. Schools and office building managers should regularly run
well-coordinated drills. If you are planning to build a house, especially east
of the Rockies, consider an underground tornado shelter or an interior "safe room".
Know the signs of a
tornado: Weather forecasting
science is not perfect and some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning.
There is no substitute for staying alert to the sky. Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for:
1.
Strong, persistent rotation
in the cloud base.
3.
Hail or heavy rain
followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are
wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.
4.
Day or night - Loud,
continuous roar or rumble, which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
5.
Night - Small, bright,
blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery
lightning up in the clouds). These mean power lines are being snapped by very
strong wind, maybe a tornado.
6.
Night - Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or
silhouetted by lightning -- especially if it is on the ground or there is a blue-green-white power flash
underneath.
WHAT TO DO...
In a house with a
basement: Avoid windows. Get in
the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work
bench), or cover yourself with amattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects
rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go
under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you. Head
protection, such as a helmet, can offer some protection also.
In a house with no
basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a
bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows.
Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with
your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even
in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding
(mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail. A helmet
can offer some protection against head injury.
In an office building,
hospital, nursing home or skyscraper: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of
the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch
down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take
shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay
off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.
In a mobile home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, it
is not as safe as an underground shelter or permanent, sturdy building. Go to
one of those shelters, using your tornado evacuation plan. Most tornadoes can
destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds
that yours will make it.
At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or
room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the
back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms
like gyms and auditoriums.
In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely risky in a tornado. There is no safe option when
caught in a tornado in a car, just slightly less-dangerous ones. If the tornado
is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of
its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Seek shelter in a sturdy
building, or underground if possible. If you are caught by extreme winds or
flying debris, park the car as quickly and safely as possible -- out of the
traffic lanes. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below
the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat, or other
cushion if possible. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of
the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your
hands. Avoid seeking shelter
under bridges, which can create
deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.
In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy
building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of
your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they
may be blown onto you in a tornado.
In a shopping mall or
large store: Do not panic. Watch
for others. Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room
or other small enclosed area, away from windows.
In a church or
theater: Do not panic. If
possible, move quickly but orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away
from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there
is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with
your arms or hands.
AFTER THE TORNADO...
Keep your family
together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive. Carefully render aid to
those who are injured. Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in
them; they may still be carrying electricity! Watch your step to avoid broken
glass, nails, and other sharp objects. Stay out of any heavily damaged houses
or buildings; they could collapse at any time. Do not use matches or lighters,
in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby. Remain calm and
alert, and listen for information and instructions from emergency crews or
local officials.
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