How to Practice Tornado Safety

Seek shelter in the interior of the home if a tornado is in the area.

While no one knows exactly where a violent and capricious tornado will touch down, it’s safe to predict being prepared can save your life and property. Spawned from violent thunderstorms, a funnel cloud can form in a split second or build up on the horizon, offering precious seconds to take shelter. Have a plan and make the most of those seconds.

Instructions

1. Pay attention to the weather when your area is experiencing conditions favorable for the formation of tornadoes. Before the storm hits, check weather forecasts on your television or online and change outdoor plans if necessary.

2. Invest in a battery or hand crank-powered weather radio. A weather radio will alert you when a warning has been issued in your area. If the power goes off, you will still know what is going on outside and know if a tornado is headed your way.

3. Hold a family meeting to discuss tornado safety. Pick one "safe spot" in your house that the whole family knows to go to if a tornado warning is issued. Choose a place on the lowest floor in your home. Ideally, it should have no windows and you want to put as many walls between you and the storm as possible. Assign a family member to bring pillows and blankets to cover everyone if a tornado is coming.

4. Place a tornado safety kit in the "safe spot" of your home. Have flashlights, batteries, a weather radio, first aid kit, some snacks and water.

5. Drive perpendicular to the direction of a tornado if you spot a storm while in the car. Despite popular belief, an overpass is not the best place to go for tornado safety. The tornado can create a wind tunnel effect and you will be very vulnerable to flying debris. If you can, try to get out of your car and in to a building or find a ditch and lie down flat in it.

6. Practice tornado safety if you are caught outside. Try to get indoors if possible. If not, try to find some type of shelter, lie down flat, and cover your head to protect it from flying debris. Look for something to hang onto. Water pipes usually run fairly deep, so they are a good option. As a last resort, find a ditch, lie down and cover your head.

Tips & Warnings

• Opening the widows does nothing to improve tornado safety. The change in pressure does not cause an implosion. Don't waste your time opening windows instead of getting to your safe spot.

• Place babies in safety seats during a tornado. The safety seat offers some protection.

• Don't assume that it won't happen to you. A tornado can strike in almost any part of the United States including major metropolitan areas.

References

• FEMA: Tornado
• Storm Prediction Center; Tornado Safety; Roger Edwards