Tornado Safety

When a tornado warning has been issued, you may have very little time to prepare. How you respond now is critical.

OBEY ADVISORIES PROMPTLY!

In A Frame Home

• Carefully evaluate the situation before bringing in outdoor items.
  
• Make sure you have a portable radio for information.
  
• Seek shelter in the lowest level of your home (basement or storm cellar). If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway, a smaller inner room, or a closet. Keep away from all windows.
  
• You can cushion yourself with a mattress, but do not use one to cover yourself. Do cover your head and eyes with a blanket or jacket to protect against flying debris and broken glass. Don't waste time moving mattresses around.
  
• Keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier.
  
• Multiple tornadoes can emerge from the same storm.
  
• Do not go out until officials say it is safe.

In A Mobile Home

• Leave your mobile home immediately and take shelter elsewhere.

Outside

• Try to get inside and seek out a small protected space with no windows.
  
• Avoid large-span roof areas such as school gymnasiums, arenas, or shopping malls.
  
• If you cannot get inside, crouch for protection beside a strong structure, or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area and cover your head and neck with your arms or a piece of clothing.

In A Car
Ideally, you should avoid driving when tornadoes or other kinds of dangerous weather threaten, as a vehicle is a very unsafe place to be. If, however, this is not possible, stay as calm as possible, and assess the situation.

• Your best option might be to get out of the car and lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area that is of sufficient depth to provide protection from the wind.
  
• If you do so, beware of water runoff from heavy rain that could pose a hazard, get as far away from the vehicle as possible, and shield your head from flying debris.
  
• Or, more optimally, if possible take shelter immediately in a nearby building.
  
• Do not leave a building to attempt to "escape" a tornado.
  
• If you are already in a sturdy building, do not get in a vehicle to try to outrun a tornado.

Information from http://www.weather.com