Tornado Safety Tips

Spring and Fall are notorious for dropping tornadoes all over the United States. Traditionally, the hardest hit areas are the Midwest, otherwise known as Tornado Alley, and the South, which has several "alleys" of its own. With touchdowns already occurring in these areas, now is a good time to go over any tornado safety plans you may have in place.

1) I can attest from very recent, personal experience, that tornadoes can drop at any time and seemingly from nonthreatening storms. Keep an eye on the clouds. If you notice a lot of wind, if you see several layers of clouds drifting in one direction while another layer is drifting in another, go check the weather on your television or radio. This turbulence may be a sign that a tornado can form. This happened in my neighborhood, where the wind sheer was just right and dropped a small funnel. But as we all know, any funnel can be dangerous. If you are suspicious, you may not have time to wait for an official warning. Go to a safe place.

2) Have an action plan ready. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, you should have a radio, flashlight, and pillows ready. Go to the lowest level of your house, or the most interior room if you are in a single-level structure. If you have a designated shelter, make sure it is stocked with water, a radio and spare batteries, flashlights, and a first aid kit. These days it is also prudent to keep your cell phone with you.

3) Do not stay in large rooms such as auditoriums, convention rooms, or gyms. Go to a small room on the lowest floor, or the interior most room. Stay away from glass and doors. Opening windows and door will not help you. Find something to cover your head, and crouch low. If you are in a tall building and do not have time to get to the lowest floor, go to the innermost hallway and sit with your back to the wall, again protecting your head.

4) If you are in your car, do not try to outrun the tornado. It only takes a single gust of wind to knock the car off the road, you do not have to be in the tornado itself. Go to the nearest visible shelter. If there is none, abandon the car and move a safe distance away, and lay flat on the lowest part of the ground you can find. Regardless of what you've seen on television, bracing yourself underneath a highway overpass is not safe. Not only can the wind suck you out, but if there is structural damage to the overpass, well, you're under it.

5) Under no circumstance whatsoever should you stay in a mobile home. These homes are little more than tin cans that can be crushed in the wind. While construction has improved, it isn't enough to withstand the force of a tornado. Don't take the chance. If large brick schools are damaged by these storms, what chance does your mobile home have? Have several possible shelters selected such as a store, a friend's house, or a storm cellar. Once a warning is issued, do not wait. Clear out immediately.

Typical signs of a tornado are fast moving, swirling or rotating clouds. Sometimes there is a green tinge to the sky, but this isn't always the case. Be mindful of any falling debris, even if you don't see a funnel: anything going up, such as leaves or branches, is a sign of a strong updraft. A sudden stillness can be a warning. And don't forget to listen. We've all heard accounts of how these tornadoes can sound like a freight train, or a jet. Most of all, trust your instinct. If something just doesn't feel right, go for a source of information.

You can find more on tornadoes and tornado safety at www.noaa.gov or ask your local news station for weather safety information.