Tornado Safety Tips from the National
Weather Service and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency:
•Know where your shelter is before you
need it.
•Don't open windows. Opening them
causes damaging winds to enter the
structure. Go immediately to a safe
place.
•Cars are the least desirable place to be
in a tornado. Don't try to outrun it. Get
out of your car, lie flat in a nearby ditch or
depression, and put your arms over your
head.
•Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer
little protection from tornadoes and
should be abandoned. If a tornado warn-
ing is given, leave your mobile home and
seek shelter nearby, such as with
friends or neighbors who have basements.
•If caught in an open building like a shop-
ping mall, indoor pool, theater, or gymna-
sium during a tornado, stay away from
windows. Go to a restroom, if possible. In
larger buildings, the restrooms are usually
made from concrete block. besides having
four walls and plumbing to hold things
together, metal partitions help support any
falling debris. When entering public buildings,
look for a pre designated shelter to go to if
a tornado occurs.
•Be prepared before a tornado happens!
Keep a battery powered radio, a flashlight,
and a few provisions in your house-designated
safe place where you can go in the event of
a tornado warning.
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