What to do if a tornado is coming?

Answer 1

Go to the basement or the center part of your house on the lowest floor. Stay away from windows. Abandon mobile homes or vehicles for a sturdy building. If you are driving and cannot get to shelter move away from the approaching tornado at right angles, if possible. If there is not enough time to move or find a suitable shelter, leave your car and lie flat in a ditch or depression. Avoid large trees, metal poles and other electrical conductors as lightning can also be a hazard.

Answer 2

1) Not not waste time opening windows, if the tornado is weak, opening windows will only cause more damage to the interior; if it is strong the state of the windows will make no difference as many of them will break anyway.

2) Get all of your family and pets together.

3) Gather everyone to a basement, INTERIOR hallway, INTERIOR bathroom, or INTERIOR closet, preferably an INTERIOR room with NO WINDOWS.

4) The bathroom, in the tub, with a mattress over you is THE SAFEST PLACE for you to survive with minimal damage.

5) Stay calm and cool. You can always panic afterward!

6) Wait until the tornado(s) has/have passed to go outside.

7) Look for survivors under nearby debris.

8) Notify local authorities of which way it came from and which way it was going and any services necessary, i.e:

National Guard roll-out, police patrol, electrical wires down, fires to be extinguished, wounded to be evacuated/treated.

9) Thank God you've survived to assist those less fortunate.

Answer 3

Lie in a depression or a ditch. Try to cover exposed skin with clothing, and cover your head with your arms.

Never hide under a bridge or in a tunnel as the risk of a collapse is high in a tornado.

Answer 4

Immediately take cover in a basement or cellar. If not is avilable, go to an interior room or hallway and stay away from windows. Crouch down and cover your head. If caught outside with no time to get inside, lie in a ditch or depression.

Answer 5

If a tornado is sighted in you area take shelter as quickly as you can. If possible, get to a basement or cellar. If underground shelter is not available go to an interior room, hallway, or closet on the lowest floor of the building you are in. Crouch down against a wall and cover your head. Vehicles and mobile homes offer little protection and should be abandoned for sturdier shelter. If you are caught in the open with no access to shelter, seek cover in a ditch or depression.

Answer 6

That depends on the level of alert. Before any alert is issued you should have a battery-powered weather radio to monitor for any potential weather hazards. Keep an emergency kit ready.

If a tornado watch is issued it means that the general weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form in the region. The chances of any given place getting hit are still low, even with a "high risk" outlook. Check in with your weather radio regularly, check the website of the National Weather Service, and check for TV and radio weather alerts. If a thunderstorm moves into you area, stay indoors. Even if no tornado occurs, the storms associated with tornado watches are often severe and can produce damaging winds, hail, and dangerous lightning.

If a tornado warning is issued it means that a tornado has been spotted or that one is likely to form soon. Take cover immediately in a basement or cellar. If none is available go to an interior room, hallway, or closet on the lowest floor. Small rooms usually provide the best protection. Abandon mobile homes for sturdier shelter.

Answer 7

If you are out in the open and unable to get inside, lied down in a ditch or depression in the ground; get as low as you can.