Tornado Safety Tips

12/6/2019 (Permalink)

If you are at home 

• If you have a cellar, storm shelter, safe room or basement available, go immediately to that area. If none of these options are available to you, get to the lowest level of your home.
• Get to a windowless interior room, such as a bathroom, closet or inner hallway 
• Stay as far from windows as possible
• Go to the center of the room – corners tend to attract debris
• Get under a sturdy piece of furniture; heavy table or desk, and hold on to it
• Protect your head and neck with a blanket, if possible

If you are in a mobile home

Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to tornadoes. They can be easily overturned, even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. If you are in a mobile home when a tornado is approaching, evacuate the home immediately.

• Take shelter in a building with a strong foundation
• If a shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the mobile home.
• Use your arms to protect head and neck

If you are at work or school

• Go to the basement or an inside hallway at the lowest level
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums, large hallways or shopping malls
• Get under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a desk or heavy table.
• Use your arms to protect head and neck

If you are outdoors

• If possible, get inside a building.
• If shelter is unavailable or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck
• Stay alert to the potential for flooding

If you are in a vehicle

Never try to outrun a tornado. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can instantly lift up a car, truck or any other vehicle and toss it through the air.

• Get out of the vehicle immediately and take shelter in a nearby building 
• If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the vehicle and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck
• Stay alert to the potential for flooding