Tornado Safety Rules
Safest Places During Tornadoes
Occasionally tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible. Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado such as a dark, often greenish sky, large hail, or a loud roar similar to a freight train.
Here are tornado safety rules from the National Weather Service:
-- The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or safe room.
-- If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
-- Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately.
-- If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter, immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.
-- If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have the following options as a last resort:
-- Stay in your vehicle with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.
-- If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.
This information is from NOAA and the National Weather Service.