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Know The Tornado Do's And Don'ts

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Jun 9, 2009 5:34 pm US/Mountain

Know The Tornado Do's And Don'ts

Good Question: When it comes to tornado protection, what are the tornado dos and don'ts?

Reporting
Alan Gionet

(CBS4/AP)

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: Sarah Fintelmann of Evans shared this photo on YouReport of the tornado on May 22 in Weld County looking to the north from east of Miliken and south of Gilcrest.
CBS
Click to enlarge 2 of 2: Good Question, a regular part of CBS4 News at 10 p.m., is an opportunity for Alan Gionet to drill past the basic facts of a story and give it some depth & perspective. See more Good Question reports.

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If you need protection from a tornado, here are some pointers from the Storm Prediction Center, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Tornado Project, Nationwide Insurance and the American Red Cross.

The first way to arm yourself is with information. Watch television (we'd like to suggest CBS4), listen to radio or a NOAA Weather Radio.

A battery powered radio is good to have around.

If you're told a tornado is approaching here are some dos and don'ts:

Dos:

-- If you are already inside a structure, go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level. Avoid areas near windows.

-- Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down. Cover the back of your head with your hands.

-- If you're in a mobile home, get out, even if it's tied down. You're probably safer outside, even if that means seeking shelter out in the open.

-- If you're outside with no shelter, lie flat in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

Don'ts:

-- Don't use your car as shelter, tornadoes can lift and throw cars.

-- Don't open the windows in your home. You may be exposed to flying glass if you're opening windows when the twister hits.

-- Don't use elevators. You could get trapped if the power is lost.

-- Don't go to the southwest corner of your shelter -- most tornadoes approach from the southwest.

-- Don't park under an overpass. It may seem like good shelter, but it can actually be more dangerous than open ground. A wind-tunnel effect can cause higher wind speeds, driving debris toward you and even propelling you out from under the overpass.

-- Don't light candles, even after the storm has passed. Ruptured gas lines can create a fire hazard so it's better to use flashlights.

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