Tornadoes
Tornado Preparedness and Survival
Tornado preparedness is like preparing for any other crisis, the best way to survive is to have a plan before it happens b/c tornadoes often strike with little or no warning giving you hardly any time to think. In most cases you have a decent amount of time advance warning when a tornado is coming. Technology has gotten much better but still knowing what to do is essential is surviving the tornado even if you know it is coming. Just b/c you can't see the tornado doesn't mean it's not there. You don't actually see a tornado, you see the debris and other stuff the tornado picks up.
The best place to be during a tornado is in the lowest area you can find. If you have a underground survival shelter or safe room get there. If you don't have a tornado survival shelter and you have a basement, get there. If you have a neighbor who has a basement and there is enough time, get there. If you don’t have a basement and you have to wait it out where ever you are at, get to the inner most part of the building and find a room with no or as few windows as possible. Closets and bathroom tend to work best. If you have time to put the kids or yourself in a helmet do so. It’s not the wind that kills people in a tornado it’s the flying debris. If you can get in the tub and pull a mattress over your head, you will be protected from all sides. The more protection you have from flying debris the better. After wards you won’t need a whole lot of equipment or supplies because there should be help there shortly thereafter. Since tornadoes are typically contained a small area there is typically no problem finding help or supplies if yours are destroyed.
Just because you don’t get hit by the tornado doesn’t mean it won’t affect you. When a tornado hits near you can expect your power to go out. It could be because wires are down. It could be because a generator got hit but you could be without electricity for a while. If that is the case there are some items that will help you to survive. You also have to take your location into account when preparing. The closer to civilization the sooner you can expect help to arrive the rural you are the lower down the priority list you will become. You might also need to think about security since some scum bags like to prey on those who are vulnerable.
When there is a tornado in the area there are certain things you want to do to prepare and look for.
First, you want to listen to your hand crack safety radio. We stress the hand crank radio in case you lose power. If a tornado is anywhere near your home of the place where you seek shelter it is more than likely going to lose power.
You ever heard the saying "the calm before the storm?" That seem to be the case in most tornado situations. Witnesses typically report a strange stillness in the sky followed or accompanied by a extremely dark or grayish green sky, large hail and if can't see it coming most report that it sound like a large freight train barreling at you.
According to FEMA's website once a tornado hits there are different ways to protect yourself depending on where you are at when the tornado strikes:
If you are under a tornado WARNING, seek shelter immediately!
| If you are in: | Then: |
|---|---|
| A structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building) | Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (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 use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows. |
| A vehicle, trailer, or mobile home | Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. |
| The outside with no shelter | Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. |
Tornado Survival Video
Below is a great video about the types of shelters used to survive tornadoes as well as steps you can take to prepare if you don't have a room.
Here is a funny video about why you should separate during a tornado for safety (so you don't bump into one another.) I figured this couldn't be all seriousness so I had to provide something you might enjoy. I also like how he decided what he is going to do about survival food. Whatever you do, DO NOT listen to Coach McGuirk when planning for survival during a disaster.
We have all the survival equipment you need to survive which ever crisis you encounter. We hope you never need to use any of it. We have collected all the equipment in one convenient location for your shopping needs. Sometimes you just don’t have the time to do the research and find the best products so we have done that for you. Below are my favorite items for when a tornado hit but you can find a more complete list of our products in our survival supply store.