How to Prepare to Survive a Tornado

In 2007, a large and fast moving tornado cut a swath through Greensburg, KS, leveling most of the town. On May 1 through 3, 2008, tornadoes struck in Arkansas, killing 8 and leveling hundreds of homes, uprooting whole trees, and flipping cars. There is no place that is immune from these fast moving funnel clouds. Knowing what to do and where to go if you are caught in a tornado producing storm or tornado can save your life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bottled water
• Radio that runs on batteries
• Flashlight
• Basement or storm shelter, if possible

1. Sirens should be tested periodically. Contact local officials to make sure there is a tornado siren that has been inspected and in working order. If the siren goes off, immediately get you and your family to safety. There have been incidents in the US where faulty or non-working sirens cost lives.
2. Go to your basement or cellar. Stock the basement with non perishable food items, a first aid kit, blankets, flashlights and bottled water in case you should be unable to leave your basement for a while. Sometimes there may be a storm system with the potential for producing tornadoes that takes several hours to move through an area.
3. Know where to go if in a trailer park. Find out if there is a storm cellar and where it is located if you live in an apartment complex or trailer park. Go to the shelter immediately if the tornado siren goes off or if you hear on television, on the internet, etc. that a potentially dangerous storm is headed in your direction.
4. Turn on your battery operated radio and listen to the national weather bureau and your local news, only leaving when they indicate it is safe to do so.
5. Avoid windows. Go to an interior wall in your house or a hallway in a hotel, staying away from windows if there is no basement or storm shelter. Have periodic drills at home, showing children what to do.
6. Don't try to outrun a tornado. Get out or your car and run into a ditch or gully, lying down face first if you are on the highway or open road. Tornadoes move fast and can change directions.
7. Talk to school officials and child care operators to make sure there is a tornado plan in place with periodic drills throughout the year.

Tips & Warnings

• With young children, have family activities you can do together to keep your child's mind off of the tornado and allay their fears. Songs and stories are great.
• Have snacks like raisins, trail mix, snack crackers, dried fruit, etc. ready to grab and take with you for your children.
• Do not take the time to open windows. This does not accomplish anything and does not affect the tornado or its momentum.
• An overpass creates a tunnel affect and tornadoes have sucked people and cars out and carried them away.
• Do no try and outrun a tornado. Although many movies depict storm chasers doing this, a tornado can change directions in a second and the winds or size can increase as more debris is pulled inside the center of the funnel.