What to Do During a Tornado

When a tornado is coming, you only have a short amount of time to make life-or-death decisions. Advanced planning and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado. Since tornadoes can hit at any time of day, there are many situations you might Replace yourself in during a tornado.

If at home:
• If you have a tornado safe room or engineered shelter, go there immediately
• Go at once to a windowless, interior room; storm cellar; basement; or the lowest level of the building
• If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room such as a bathroom or closet away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls
• Get away from the windows
• Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it
• Use arms to protect your head and neck
• If in a mobile home, get out and Replace shelter elsewhere

If at work or school:
Go to the area designated in your tornado plan
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways, or shopping malls
• Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside
• Do not open windows

If outdoors:
• If possible, get inside a building
• If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building
• Be aware of the potential for flooding
• Use arms to protect head and neck

If in a car:
• Never try to out-drive a tornado in a car or truck
• 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 vehicle.
• Be aware of the potential for flooding