What To Do In Case of A Tornado
Who is at risk?
If case of an F5 tornado, everyone in the path of the storm. Seeking shelter safe shelter should be your first priority.
- People in vehicles
- People in mobile-homes
- Elderly
- Very young
You should take immediate action to protect you and your family.
Tornados unlike Hurricanes come with usually no or little warning. When hear local weather forecast talk about severe thunderstorm warnings this could be a sign of potential activity. Remember you should seek shelter before the storm arrives and stay indoors. Have a family plan to know where to go if a storm approaches. If you are outside try to seek shelter immediately. Debris from a tornado is extremely dangerous and can kill you, so seeking shelter in a basement or inside a structure is vital.
EF Scale
Tornados are issued an Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) based on the estimated wind speeds and related damage. The current EF Scale is listed below:
EF0 - 65 – 85 MPH
EF1- 85-110 MPH
EF2- 111-135 MPH
EF3- 136-165 MPH
EF4- 166-200 MPH
EF5- 200 plus MPH
What to do if you see a tornado
If you are in your home, move to the basement. If you do not have a basement go to an interior wall, closet or bathroom. If your property has an underground shelter move to it quickly.
Get under a sturdy table or cover yourself with a mattress to prevent being hit by debris.
Stay away from windows and doors
If you are in a mobile-home, try to find another structure with a basement if possible.
If you are in a vehicle, try to find ditch. Remember to lay flat. You should be lower than the ground level.
After the Tornado
Safety is always first, make sure your family and others are safe. If someone is injured, administer first aid and call 911. After a tornado you could have down power lines, and gas pipes could have ruptured so do no use any matches or lighters. For light, use a flashlight or cell phone if possible. Remember to stay calm until help arrives.