How To Stay Prepared For A Tornado

First of all you have to know the signs of a tornado. If you are under a tornado watch, obviously there is a possibility of the presence of a tornado so you have to be alert at all times. It is difficult to see a tornado especially at night or if it is hidden by dust or precipitation.

You can still know that a tornado is coming by these warning signs.

1. There are dust and debris whirling and rotating on the ground (Take note that a tornado does not always have a visible funnel).
2. Try to see if there is a strong persistent rotation in the cloud base.
3. There is falling debris such as mud and tree branches. The strong winds of a tornado can pick up huge debris and throw it a long way. If you see that there is large debris falling from the sky, it only means that there is a nearby tornado.
4. If there is a loud persistent sound like that of a thunder but doesn’t go away.
5. If you see blue or blue-green flashes of light at ground level, as opposed to silvery lightning flashes. These flashes of lights can be an indication that the power lines and transformers were being damaged by strong winds and possibly a tornado.
6. If there is a huge hail
7. If there is a sudden, intense, sustained shifting of winds. Thunderstorms without tornadoes always have shifting winds, but if there is a sudden, intense shifting of winds in a sustained direction this might be an indication of a tornado.
8. If there is a sudden heavy rain that also stopped suddenly. When the winds of a tornado rotate it can eject large amounts of water in one direction, just like a fire hose. If a sudden, heavy and short rainfall happens, it only means that there is a tornado nearby.

Preparing for tornadoes at home

1. Make a plan on how to get to your makeshift storm shelter and rehearse it with your family. You can also look for the safest area in your house, if you don’t have a makeshift storm shelter. A basement is also a good place to hide during a tornado.
2. Get to safety immediately if there is a tornado coming.
3. Protect yourself and your family from flying debris or objects, you can use anything you can grab it can be a mattress, blankets, or pillows.
4. The most important thing that you need to protect is your head.
5. Do not go near the windows.
6. Watch or listen to weather news. A tornado WARNING is different from a tornado WATCH. A tornado warning is issued if there is a possibility of a tornado formation, while a tornado watch is issued when a tornado has been seen by radar or by eye.

Inside a building

1. The roof of shopping malls, movie theaters and other long-span buildings might collapse during a tornado. Find a better place to hide.
2. If the tornado is coming your way get to the lowest floor of the building and protect yourself from flying objects, do not go near the windows.
3.  Find a place that you think you can be safe; you can get under a counter or the theater seats.
4.  Avoid using the elevator.
5.  You can hide in an underground garage; especially those that have large support columns.

If you are in your car

Vehicles are death traps during a tornado as they can be easily tossed and destroyed so get out and go to the nearest building’s basement

1. Never try to outrun a tornado.
2. Find a safe shelter or place to hide. If there are no buildings, lie flat in a ditch or ravine and cover your head with your hands.
3.  Do not go to areas where there are trees.
4.   Protect your head at all times.

If you are staying in a mobile home

1. Do not stay in your mobile home during a tornado and find a safe place to hide. Find a safe shelter to hide before the tornado comes like a nearby building.
2. If there are no buildings, lie flat in a ditch and cover your head with your hands.

Secure your property from tornadoes

1. Get your car to your garage or carport.
2. Make sure that there are no loose objects in your yard.
3. If you have pets at home, get them to your shelter.
4. If you have shutters, do not forget to close them.

Some facts about tornadoes you should know about

March to August is the ‘tornado season’ in the U.S. “Tornado season” refers to the peak months of activity. In the Midwest or north, peak months are summer months and in the southwest, the peak is early spring. Tornadoes can occur anytime of the year.

Tornadoes in May usually occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Opening windows does nothing and can be dangerous as you might get injured by flying glass and debris.

The safest place to be in a tornado is underground, but if you don’t have an underground shelter, a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor of your house is the next best place to be to survive a tornado.

Though tornadoes occur worldwide, conditions in the US are most favorable to their formation.