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Tornadoes can occur with little or no warning. You will have only minutes time to make life-or-death decisions. It is important to know basic tornado safety so that you can survive should one strike.
- Don't wait until a warning is issued to begin planning how you will respond. Take responsibility for your safety and plan now.
- Have a plan. Meet with household members to discuss how to respond to an approaching tornado. Hold tornado drills. Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
During a Tornado:
Listen to the radio, local television, weather channel or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) radio for information.
The safest place to go during a tornado is underground in a basement or storm cellar. If you have no basement, go to an inner hallway or smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Go to the center of the room.
Protect Yourself. Try to find something sturdy to can get under and hold onto to protect you from flying debris and/or collapsed roof. Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
Stay away from windows and objects that might fall.
Mobile Home Residents: If you live in a mobile home park, talk to management about the availability of a nearby shelter. If no shelter is available, go outside and lie on the ground, if possible in a ditch or depression. Use your arms to protect your head and neck and wait for the storm to pass. While waiting, be alert for the flash floods that sometimes accompany tornadoes.
If You're Outdoors:
Get inside, if possible.
If you have no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.
Flooding is a potential danger.
Protect your head and neck by using your arms.
If You're In a Car:
Never try to outrun a tornado in a car. A tornado can toss cars and trucks around like toys. If you see a funnel cloud or hear a tornado warning issued, get out of your vehicle and find safe shelter.
Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building.
If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the car.
Flooding is a potential danger.
Be alert to what is happening outside:
- If there is a watch or warning posted, falling hail should be considered a real danger sign.
- An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado, even if a funnel is not visible.
- Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.
- Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
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