The sky darkens. Winds pick up, and it’s only a matter of time before hail starts falling from the sky. A tornado is coming, something you’re all too familiar with.
Where do you go? There are three buildings nearby, each within the same distance. Do you hit up the mall? Or what about that well-built home? But there’s also a community shelter nearby. One option is better than the others, but how will you know which to take shelter in?
FEMA has some recommendations as to what constitutes as best protection, and what really doesn’t do much for you during a tornado. So follow these guidelines and know where to go the next time a tornado threatens your area!
Minimal/Inadequate Protection
While it may be tempting to run to the nearest building, doing so may not be to your advantage. Manufactured homes and offices (i.e. mobile), malls, gymnasiums, vehicles, and the great expanses of the outdoors don’t give you the adequate protection necessary should a tornado roar by. Manufactured buildings blow away easily, as do vehicles. Malls, gymnasiums, and other open-plan buildings are just that – too open. If a tornado did come through those types of buildings, there would be nowhere to take cover should the walls or roof blow away.
If you Replace yourself
outdoors with no readily available shelter, lay flat in a ditch or low-lying area and protect your head with your arms or other object if available. Avoid areas with trees.
Moderate Protection
Sturdy buildings can provide some decent protection, especially if you have a small, interior and windowless room to bunker down in. Even if your building is sturdy, stay away from the upper levels. Replace a safe room on the lowest level of the building, as that will give you the most protection.
While the tornado twists madly about outside, FEMA warns to stay covered. You never know when debris can break through, so cover up with cushions, a sleeping bag, blanket, or anything else you can Replace. Just remember, these buildings aren’t designed to stand up to the ferocity of tornadoes, so even if you are in a sturdy building, a powerful tornado could still do major damage, so take as many precautions as you can.
Best Protection
If you live in a tornado prone area, you might want to consider looking into a safe room or storm shelter. When properly constructed, these safe havens will protect you from nearly all strengths of tornadoes. Having a tornado shelter will greatly increase your odds of safety, and they can be built in your home, business, or even in the community. For more information on building a personal safe room,
check out FEMA’s guide by following this link.
If you live in Tornado Alley, you need to know the best places to take shelter when a tornado is coming. For those not effected by tornadoes frequently, it’s still good to know where you should take shelter. Tornadoes come to every state, so there’s always a possibility of being hit by one (if you haven’t already).
Where do you go to shelter from tornadoes? Let us know in the comments!
2 comments
RS
This is pretty easy for someone who lives in Central Oklahoma. You need to be in one of 2 places. Underground or in a professionally built safe-room in your house. Most sheeple wait until its too late to decide to seek shelter and once the twister is bearing down on them, they decide to jump in a car and run or get in a bathtub; (as far as the bathtub goes,,, if that’s all you have go for it I’ve just seen people sucked out of the tub and thrown into fields). The problem is… Some of our tornado’s are EF4’s or EF5’s with winds near 300mph. If you are within or near the edges of this monster, your home will get blown away. Nothing but the slab and possibly a “real” safe-room. So, remember- buy yourself some time… If you hear the local media telling of a tornado headed in your direction, take shelter immediately,, immediately.. OH, did I say immediately. If you hear the storm siren, its too late….Don’t go outside like most Okies do and watch to see how big the tornado is.. (I can say that, I’m one of them). Don’t get in the car.. Get underground or in a “real” safe-room… I say this from experience, I’ve been too close to several of them over the years and have seen first hand what people do (or shouldn’t do) and what the aftermath of our tornado’s are like.
Don
I live in a mobile home. I installed an certified tornado shelter in my garage, to the concrete floor. I added seats, shelving, 72 hour back packs, back up lighting, water to drink.