What to do in a tornado
DOs:
• If you are already inside a structure, go to a pre-designated shelter area, such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest-building level. Avoid areas near windows.
• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio, regular radio or television for tornado updates. (Battery-powered devices are best.)
• Crouch as low as possible, facing down. Cover the back of your head with your hands.
• If you’re in a mobile home, get out, even if it is tied down. You’re probably safer outside, even if that means seeking shelter in the open.
• If you’re outside with no shelter, lie flat in a ditch or a depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.
DON’Ts:
• Don’t use your car as a shelter.
• Don’t open the windows in your home. You might be exposed to flying glass if you’re opening windows when the twister hits.
• Don’t use elevators. You could get trapped if the power goes out.
• Don’t go to the southwest corner of your shelter — most tornadoes approach from the southwest.
• Don’t park under an overpass. It can be more dangerous than open ground. A wind-tunnel effect can cause higher wind speeds, driving debris toward you and even propelling you out from under the overpass.
• Don’t light candles, even after the storm has passed. Ruptured gas lines can create a fire hazard, so it’s better to use flashlights.
Sources: Storm Prediction Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Tornado Project, Nationwide Insurance, American Red Cross
