Preparing
for Tornadoes
When a tornado
is coming, you have only a short amount of time to make life-or-death
decisions. Advance planning and quick response are the keys
to surviving a tornado.
BEFORE
Conduct tornado
drills each tornado season.
Designate an area in the home as a shelter, and practice
having everyone in the family go there in response to a
tornado threat.
Discuss with
family members the difference between a "tornado watch" and
a "tornado warning."
Contact your
local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter
for more information on tornadoes.
Have disaster
supplies on hand.
- Flashlight
and extra batteries
- Portable,
battery-operated radio and extra batteries
- First aid
kit and manual
- Emergency
food and water
- Nonelectric
can opener
- Essential
medicines
- Cash and
credit cards
- Sturdy shoes
Develop an
emergency communication plan.
In case family
members are separated from one another during a tornado (a
real possibility during the day when adults are at work and
children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state
relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After
a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure
everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number
of the contact person.
Tornado Watches
and Warnings
A tornado
watch is issued by the National Weather Service when
tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching
storms. This is time to remind family members where the safest
places within your home are located, and listen to the radio
or television for further developments.
A tornado
warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or
indicated by weather radar.
Mobile Homes
Mobile homes
are particularly vulnerable. A mobile home can overturn very
easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the
unit. When a tornado warning is issued, take shelter in a building
with a strong foundation.If shelter is not available, lie in
ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the unit.
Tornado Danger
Signs
Learn these
tornado danger signs:
- 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.
DURING
If at home:
- Go at once
to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the
building.
- If there
is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner
room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.
- Get away
from the windows.
- Go to the
center of the room. Stay away from corners because they tend
to attract debris.
- 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 head and neck.
- If in a
mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.
If at work
or school:
- Go to the
basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest level.
- Avoid places
with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large
hallways, or shopping malls.
- 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 head and neck.
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 outdrive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes can change
direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss
it through the air.
- 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.
AFTER
Help injured
or trapped persons
. Give first
aid when appropriate. Don't try to move the seriously injured
unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call
for help.
- Turn on
radio or television to get the latest emergency information.
- Stay out
of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say
it is safe.
- Use the
telephone only for emergency calls.
- Clean up
spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable
liquids immediately. Leave the buildings if you smell gas
or chemical fumes.
- Take pictures
of the damage--both to the house and its contents--for insurance
purposes.
Remember to
help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants,
the elderly, and people with disabilities.
INSPECTING
UTILITIES IN A DAMAGED HOME
Check for gas
leaks--If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise,
open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the
gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company
from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason,
it must be turned back on by a professional.
Look for electrical
system damage--If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires,
or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at
the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in
water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician
first for advice.
Check for sewage
and water lines damage--If you suspect sewage lines are damaged,
avoid using toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are
damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from
the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.
Fujita - Pearson
Tornado Scale
F-0: 40-72
mph, chimney damage, tree branches broken
F-1: 73-112 mph, mobile homes pushed off foundation
or overturned
F-2: 113-157 mph, considerable damage, mobile homes
demolished, trees uprooted
F-3: 158-205 mph, roofs and walls torn down, trains
overturned, cars thrown
F-4: 207-260 mph, well-constructed walls leveled
F-5: 261-318 mph, homes lifted off foundation and
carried considerable distances, autos thrown as far as
100 meters
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