Identifying appropriate shelter during a tornado

If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately. Knowing what is an appropriate shelter during a tornado warning can be the difference between life and death.

If you are in a school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, or high-rise building, go to a pre-designated area such as a safe room, or a small interior windowless room on the lowest level, below ground in a basement, or storm cellar, is best. (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body as best you can with a heavy coat, blankets, or pillows. Do not open windows.

If you are in a manufactured home or get out immediately and go to a pre storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, do not offer protection from tornadoes.

If you are outside and not in a sturdy building, there is no single researchbased recommendation for what lastresort action to take because many factors can affect your decision. Do not get under an overpass or bridge — you a roadside ditch. Never try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for protection in a sturdy building.

If you have enough warning, it is best to not be outside during a tornado warning. Outdoor areas are not protected tornado.

process to where if you register your the storm does come through, we can pull those records and see who has shelters in that path,” stated Benton Management Michael Waddle. “What responders on those areas — because even though you have a storm shelter, your house may be on top of that storm clear a path to your shelter.”

Safe rooms built below ground level provide the greatest protection, but a safe also can provide the necessary protection. Below-ground safe rooms must be designed to avoid rising waters during the heavy rains that often accompany severe storms.

To protect its occupants, a safe room must be built to withstand high winds the residence is severely damaged or destroyed.

“If you don’t have a storm shelter, try to have a designated storm area in your home,” added Waddle. “We recommend an interior-most room away from windows. Try to stay away from exterior walls, as well.”