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What Are Tornado Safety Precautions?

Amy Pollick
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Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 16,388
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Tornadoes do millions of dollars in damage each year to property in the United States. Thankfully, there are usually few fatalities. This is almost always because people know proper tornado safety precautions.

Flying debris is the number one killer when a tornado strikes. This is why the first safety precaution is to get inside a sturdy building, away from windows. A storm shelter is always preferable, but if one is not available, a person should go into an interior room on the lowest level of the building. The idea is to put as many walls between you and the outside as possible. Interior closets or bathrooms are good places to hide.

It's always a good idea to take along a pillow or to wear a bike or motorcycle helmet to protect the head. The person should also put shoes on. This is because the high winds from a tornado may blow out a window, and the person may have to walk over broken glass or other debris after the storm passes.

Motorists who find themselves in tornadic thunderstorms, or who spot a tornado, should pull over and find a ditch or ravine to lie down in. A dry culvert with some shelter is good, too. A popular television show had storm chasers hiding under an overpass, but this is a bad idea because the winds can blow someone out from under the structure, and a direct hit could destroy it. Somewhere below ground level is always a preferable shelter. Don't try to drive faster than the storm is moving. A motorist should always seek shelter rather than trying to outrun the storm.

Mobile homes are death traps and should be vacated as soon as possible. They are particularly prone to being flipped and torn by the rotating winds in a tornado, and more deaths occur in mobile homes than in any other kind of structure. People in office buildings should follow the home rule of getting in the center of the building on the lowest floor, away from windows. A gymnasium or any room with a large, unsupported roof should be vacated as well. These buildings are prone to roof loss in a tornado.

A tornado is a dangerous storm and should never be taken lightly. However, except in cases of an extremely violent tornado, following common sense safety precautions will almost always limit injuries and prevent fatalities.

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Amy Pollick
By Amy Pollick
Amy Pollick, a talented content writer and editor, brings her diverse writing background to her work at WiseGeek. With experience in various roles and numerous articles under her belt, she crafts compelling content that informs and engages readers across various platforms on topics of all levels of complexity.

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Discussion Comments
By Lostnfound — On Dec 13, 2014

When I'm in an unfamiliar building, the first thing I do is look for where I'd hide during a tornado, especially if the weather is supposed to be bad that day.

In most places, like department stores, this will be the bathroom. There's a grocery store in my area that takes shoppers to the employee break room and bathroom area because these are on inside walls and are very well protected.

You can always tell when you're in a tornado-prone area because public buildings will have "tornado shelter" signs posted.

By Grivusangel — On Dec 12, 2014

A lot of people in my area have invested in storm shelters or safe rooms since the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. It was awful.

The in-house safe room has become popular, since people don't have to go outside to get to safety, which is always better.

Another new innovation is to build an underground shelter underneath an already existing structure, like the garage. They build a sliding door so it's flat, and again, people don't have to go outside to get to shelter. With debris being such a risk, you don't want to leave the house if not absolutely necessary.

By anon90176 — On Jun 14, 2010

very good and interesting things about tornado precautions. cool.

By anon85854 — On May 22, 2010

Wow! This is really good information! This information has helped me in research for a project on tornado precautions! Thanks!

By anon84964 — On May 18, 2010

Thank you so much for the information. This is just what I needed to finish up one of my final projects in my Earth and Space Science class! Thank you wisegeek.com

By anon83195 — On May 09, 2010

Wise geek is pretty good! Your information was interesting and helpful! Good job!

Amy Pollick
Amy Pollick
Amy Pollick, a talented content writer and editor, brings her diverse writing background to her work at WiseGeek. With...
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