Tornado Tips: Tips to Stay Safe When the Wind Is Worst

Tornadoes can strike anywhere, anytime, any day. Even if there are sunny skies outside, like some areas during the May 3, 1999 Oklahoma City tornado, a tornado can still strike.

A really good source of weather is Desktop Weather or WeatherBug. You can get it on your computer, and it will notify you when there is severe weather. From Tornado Warnings to Dense Fog Advisories, they have it all!

If either on the computer or the T.V., you notice that there is a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch, it is not required to go into your hiding spot. In fact, don’t go in there at all. But stay tuned to the weather. If WeatherBug makes its chirping noise, check it out immediately. If an EAS Transmission (the blue screen with severe weather or amber alerts) appears on the T.V. screen, read it quickly. If it reads Tornado Warning, go into your hiding spot immediately. Even if it is sunny.

A Tornado Warning is issued for 2 reasons. 1, which is the most common, and is often misleading, Doppler has indicated tornadic thunderstorms, which is often incorrect, or 2, spotters have indicated a tornado. Even if it heading away from your area, stay in your hiding spot until you get the “all clear” message.

Your hiding spot should be a basement, a storm cellar, or if none are available, an interior room such as a small closet. In your hiding spot, there should be a survival pack, which should have food, clothes, money, water, flashlights, batteries, and a wireless radio. Take out the radio when you get the warning, and don’t go out until the “all clear” sign is given. Remember, if 1 came, more can come from the supercell thunderstorm it came from.

How to recognize a tornado is easy. If a tornado may come, look fore a rotating thundercloud, referred to as a “Supercell”, unusually large hail, a blackish, or greenish sky, debris in the air, or the sound of a freight train, fighter jet, or waterfall.

During the Storm
If you recognize one of the tornado signs, or get the warning, immediately get into your hiding spot, crouched on your knees with your arms over your head and neck to prevent yourself from flying debris. As a matter of fact, most tornado deaths result from flying debris.

If you are caught in a tornado outside with no shelter to take cover in, lie down in the lowest spot of ground possible, letting no air get under you. Put your hands over your neck and head.

When running to shelter, if skin gets prickly, that is a sign that lightning can strike you. Crouch down on the balls of your feet, while covering your head and ears with your arms. Get as low as possible, but do not have a lot of body contact with the ground. The less body contact, the safer you are from lightning. When the prickling goes away, be sure to run immediately.

If a storm hits at night, yell TORNADO! at the top of your lungs, then run to your hiding spot. Do not try and wake people up. You probably don’t hear this a lot, but your life is more important that someone else’s, when it comes to saving somebody’s life in a position like a tornado at night. Besides, if the screaming doesn’t wake them up, the noise will.

A severe thunderstorm can produce tornadoes, and a severe thunderstorm is most likely a supercell. They don’t always produce tornadoes, but they can cause excessive damage with microbursts (straight-line winds of very high speeds), torrential rain, and lightning.

Do not leave your hiding spot under any circumstances. If the funnel passes over you, and you have survived up until then, you will probably survive the rest of the storm. But watch out for the raining debris, they can be even more deadly than the funnel itself.

Don’t let size confuse you. The big tornadoes are most often severe ones (F3 to F5), but they can be wimpy, and the small, F0 and F1 size tornadoes can be destructive. Even though the chances of an F5 tornado are less than 1 in 100, they cause 85% of tornado deaths.

After the Storm
If you have survived up until the “all clear” point, move with a lot of caution. There will be lots of debris, downed powerlines, and other dangers. Quite a few casualties occur after the storm has passed.

Remember I told you to include flashlights in the survival kit? Use them now. Candles can catch fire and do more damage, while flashlights are safe, except for putting your hand on the top of it.

If you encounter any dangers, report them to 911. The lines can be full, but so what?

Your house may be destroyed or damaged. Don’t feel left out though; many other houses will be in your state. Even though I have never seen a tornado in real like, although I’ve encountered about 5 warnings, I am sure that if your state is considered a disaster area, you’ll get some money and handouts. Even if it isn’t a disaster area, I am positive that life insurance will cover the costs.

Don’t be afraid to express your emotions. If you feel like crying, do it. There is an appropriate time for crying, and an inappropriate time for crying. After a tornado has struck, it is a perfect time for crying.

If you are POSITIVE that your house’s remains are safe, you might want to enter them and look for any belongings that lasted. Even if the tornado was F0, which may only cause the tiniest of damage, some things are bound to be destroyed.

I have never encountered a tornado, but I believe that this advice is Very Helpful. In fact, I did quite a bit of research on this subject, and I hope it helps. If you need more advice, type “Tornado” in the address bar of your browser, and you will find some interesting websites. One website that excels in tornado information is http://www.tornadoproject.com.