Staying Safe!
Things to Avoid Doing During a Tornado
- Not taking tornado warnings seriously. There are tornado warning false alarms all of the time.
- Look out the window.
- Open the windows of your house.
- Try to outrun a tornado.
- Take cover underneath an overpass.
- A car is one of the worst places to be during a tornado. During a tornado, objects are lofted in the air and then circulate within and around the tornado at high speeds.
A bathtub can be a safe place to find shelter at home. So, while it’s not a foolproof plan, remember that bathtubs aren’t inherently heavy enough to stand firm no matter what sheltering yourself in the tub is a good idea if your bathroom is windowless and located in your home’s interior.
Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). If possible, avoid sheltering in a room with windows. For added protection get under something sturdy (a heavy table or workbench). Cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress.
- DON’T: Stand near windows or other glass objects.
- DON’T: Stay in the mobile home, even if it is tied down, as most tornadoes can destroy mobile homes that are tied down.
- DO: Get out as quickly as possible and find a shelter or lie flat on low ground away from trees and cars, protecting your head.
You should open your windows during a tornado. Always seek out shelter in the southwest corner of any building. Well, yes, but it has to do with weather patterns and not geographic vengeance. “Tornadoes can appear from any direction,“
DO NOT STAY IN A MOBILE HOME DURING A TORNADO!
Mobile homes can turn over during strong winds. If you live in a mobile home, go to a nearby building, preferably one with a basement. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert and shield your head with your hands.
