How to Practice Tornado Safety

Spring is tornado season, but a tornado can form at anytime of the year. It is important to know tornado safety to survive the storm and keep you and your family safe.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. The first step in practicing tornado safety is to pay attention to the weather. With the advancement of technology, meteorologists are usually able to tell a day in advance when the weather conditions are going to be favorable for the formations of tornadoes. During those times, keep checking the weather forecasts on your television or online.

2. Invest in a weather radio. A weather radio will alert you when a warning has been issued in your area. The best thing about a weather radio is that most are battery powered, so, if the power goes off, you will still know what is going on outside and know if a tornado is headed your way.

3. Have 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. This place should be 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. Someone should have the responsibility to bring pillows and blankets to cover everyone if a tornado is coming.

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

5. If you are in a car and you see a tornado, drive perpendicular to where it is going. 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 lay down flat in it.

6. If you are outside use these tips to practice tornado safety. Try to get indoors if possible. If not, try to find some type of shelter, lay down flat, and cover your head to protect it from flying debris. Try to see if you can find something to hang onto. Water pipes usually run fairly deep, so they would be a good option. If all else fails, try to find a ditch, lay down, and cover your head.

Tips & Warnings

• Opening the widows does nothing to provide tornado safety. The old belief was that the change in pressure could cause an implosion. This is simply not true. Don't waste your time opening windows instead of getting to your safe spot.
• Try placing babies in safety seats during a tornado. The safety seat can offer 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.

[momtchr]

on 5/4/2009 Great article! Very informative!