Safety Tips: Tornadoes

Tornado Safety

When a tornado warning has been issued, you may have very little time to prepare. How you respond now is critical.

OBEY ADVISORIES PROMPTLY!

In A Frame Home

Carefully evaluate the situation before bringing in outdoor items.
Make sure you have a portable radio for information.
Seek shelter in the lowest level of your home (basement or storm cellar). If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway, a smaller inner room, or a closet. Keep away from all windows.
You can cushion yourself with a mattress, but do not use one to cover yourself. Do cover your head and eyes with a blanket or jacket to protect against flying debris and broken glass. Don't waste time moving mattresses around.
Keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier.
Multiple tornadoes can emerge from the same storm.
Do not go out until officials say it is safe.

In A Mobile Home

Leave your mobile home immediately and take shelter elsewhere.

Outside

Try to get inside and seek out a small protected space with no windows.
Avoid large-span roof areas such as school gymnasiums, arenas, or shopping malls.
If you cannot get inside, crouch for protection beside a strong structure, or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area and cover your head and neck with your arms or a piece of clothing.

In A Car
Ideally, you should avoid driving when tornadoes or other kinds of dangerous weather threaten, as a vehicle is a very unsafe place to be. If, however, this is not possible, stay as calm as possible, and assess the situation.

Your best option might be to get out of the car and lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area that is of sufficient depth to provide protection from the wind.
If you do so, beware of water runoff from heavy rain that could pose a hazard, get as far away from the vehicle as possible, and shield your head from flying debris.
Or, more optimally, if possible take shelter immediately in a nearby building.
Do not leave a building to attempt to "escape" a tornado.
If you are already in a sturdy building, do not get in a vehicle to try to outrun a tornado.

Information from http://www.weather.com