Tag Archives: tornado

Anyone who has ever survived a tornado knows firsthand, how terrifying one can be. The rain, hail, gusty winds, loud noises and uncertainty is frightening beyond description. Individuals who have never personally had a tornado rip through their town but who have seen the devastation that one can cause, have likely given some thought to what measures they need to take in the event that one does blow through their area. If they haven’t, they should. While it is impossible to 100% safeguard oneself during a tornado, having a plan and knowing what to do in the event of a tornado, can increase an individual’s (and their family’s) chances of surviving it.

If an individual is in their home when a tornado strikes, the safest place is the basement, under some sort of protective structure, for instant a work bench or heavy table. Covering oneself with a sleeping bag or mattress is recommended as well.

It is important for an individual or family to be knowledgeable about their home’s floor plan and where heavy objects are located above them. For instance, the basement’s safe spot shouldn’t be under a room with heavy objects, for example, the kitchen which likely contains a refrigerator or stove. Both are heavy and if they come through the floor can severely injure or kill whoever they fall upon. It is also important to stay away from windows.

Individuals that don’t have a basement should go to a room on the lowest floor in their home and stay away from windows. Apartment dwellers with only one floor should make their way to the innermost bathroom or closet. If you chose an inner bathroom, it’s still a good idea to cover yourself with a mattress. Again, it is important to find a room with no or minimal windows, because flying glass can be very dangerous.

Individuals that live in mobile homes should seek alternative shelter. These types of homes are notorious for being blown away or flipped over during a tornado. At the first sign of a tornado, an individual and their family should find shelter in a sturdy building or at someone else’s house. If there is a storm shelter in the mobile home complex, an individual or family should make their way to it, if they have been directed to do so in the event of a tornado. Getting away from the mobile home and finding a clear patch of land is another alternative. If a person opts to do so, it is important that they get as far away as possible from their mobile home and others. There is a chance that their mobile home(s) or those located nearby may roll atop or into whatever is in its path.

If a person is outdoors, their first and best option would be to run inside a sturdy building or a shelter. A store, office building, storm shelter, etc., would be sufficient. If they are not able to do so, there next option would be to find a ditch or low-lying area to lay in, face down with their hands and arms covering the back of their head. When at all possible, a person should try as hard as they can to get away from nearby cars and trees which may fall or be blown on top of them.

Outdoors is the last place a person will want to be when a tornado strikes. Unfortunately, sometimes a person has little control over their whereabouts when a tornado hits. When a person is outdoors during a tornado, they will have to seek out the best protection possible. This might involve pulling over and running into a sturdy building or shelter if there is one available and they have enough time. If there is no such shelter, an individual may need to exit their car and find an open space and lay flat on the ground with their arms covering their head. If the tornado is visible but still far way, driving in a 90 degree angle to the tornado can help keep a person out of its path.

To help keep oneself safe at work, it is important to pay close attention to the established safety plan. Knowing where to go in the event that a tornado strikes, ahead of time, could mean the difference between a person being injured or not. It could even mean the difference between life and death. Paying attention during tornado drills or obtaining the safety plan and having it on hand can be very helpful as well.

It is likely that a company or place of business will alert their staff after a tornado warning has been issued. When they do, it is important to not hesitate but too seek shelter per their instructions immediately. Any type of delay could end up being costly.

The best place to seek shelter whether at home or work is an enclosed area with no windows. One of the biggest dangers during a tornado is flying debris. Flying glass, office equipment, even pencils can be instruments of death and/or injury. To avoid getting cut by shards or large pieces of glass, it is best to stay away from rooms with any windows if at all possible. If for some reason this is not a possibility, a room with as few windows as possible would be the next best option, if it is underground. If there is no underground, the lowest floor in the building will have to suffice. Interior stairwells can also provide a decent amount of protection and are thus a good option.

One of the most frightening places to be during a tornado is in a vehicle. A car or truck provides minimal protection and depending on a person is driving there may not be much, if any, shelter nearby. When this is the case, an individual will be forced to do the best they can to protect themselves and those in the car with them under the circumstances. Knowing what to do and where to seek shelter in the event of a tornado gives individuals the best chance of staying safe.

A car or truck is one of the most dangerous places to be during a tornado. Individuals should avoid, when possible, driving when there is a possibility that a tornado will occur. During inclement weather, especially during the tornado season, it is best to stay home or wherever a person happens to be at the time. A sturdy building with a basement or safe room will offer a greater amount of protection than a car or open field.

If a person gets stuck in their car or truck during a tornado, are able to visibly spot the tornado and are far enough away that they are not directly in its path, it may be possible to get away from the tornado by driving at right angles to it.

Keeping the radio on in order keep abreast of the tornado’s whereabouts is very important. Not knowing what is going on can be dangerous, deadly even.

One of the last places a person should be during a tornado is in their car or truck. This is extremely dangerous and when it can be avoided, should be. A vehicle provides minimal protection. It can get sucked into the tornado or pushed into a structure such as bridge or a building. It may be flipped over or be struck by another car (or vice versa). However, if a person does end up in their car, they need to be knowledgeable about what to do, specifically, the best places to seek shelter. When at all possible, they should seek protection by way of a sturdy building or shelter. If there are no such structures around, a person should pull their car over, get out and lay flat on the ground with their arms covering their head, away from other cars and structures which may collapse such as bridges or overpasses.

Encountering a storm that’s producing tornadoes is an extremely scary situation, regardless of whether you’re at home, work, in the car or outside Of course, your best protection would be to take shelter in an underground storm shelter.