Get Ready for Severe Storms – Know Your Safe Place

DEM Blogger

April 1, 2019

If a tornado warning is issued or a tornado has been spotted or indicated by weather radar, you need to seek shelter immediately. However, it’s important to know that not all severe storms are tornadoes. High winds that are NOT tornadoes can cause significant property damage and injuries. The safest place to be when a severe storm or approaches is in a basement or storm shelter underground. But if you are not able to get to a shelter or basement, you need to find shelter that is available.

If you are at home 

• If you have a basement, storm shelter, or specially built safe room, go immediately to that area. Don’t worry about opening your windows first – that would be a mistake, just get to the basement, and get under a sturdy piece of furniture or workbench. Grab blankets to cover yourself with, which will protect you from flying debris. If none of these options are available to you, get to the lowest level of your home.
• DON’T GO OUTDOORS AND WATCH FOR THE STORM TO PASS. Most storm-related deaths are due to flying debris during the storm and persons who do not shelter properly.
• Get to a windowless interior room, such as a bathroom, closet or inner hallway
• Stay as far from windows as possible
• Go to the center of the room – corners tend to attract debris
• Get under a sturdy piece of furniture; heavy table or desk, and hold on to it
• Protect your head and neck with a blanket or bike helmet, if possible

If you are in a mobile home

Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to tornadoes. They can be easily overturned, even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. If you are in a mobile home when a tornado is approaching, evacuate the home immediately.

• Take shelter in a building with a strong foundation
• If a shelter is not available, lie in a ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the mobile home.
• Use your arms to protect head and neck

If you are at work or school

• Locate the designated shelter area. It may be in a restroom, hallway or stairway.
• If you cannot find a designated shelter area, go to the basement or an inside hallway at the lowest level. Stay aware from windows, glass doors and skylights.
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums, large hallways or shopping malls
• Get under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a desk or heavy table.
• Use your arms to protect head and neck

If you are outdoors

• If possible, get inside a building.
• If shelter is unavailable or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck
• Stay alert to the potential for flooding

If you are in a vehicle

Never try to outrun a tornado. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can instantly lift up a car, truck or any other vehicle and toss it through the air. DO NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER A BRIDGE OR UNDERPASS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE DURING A SEVERE STORM OR TORNADO.

• Get out of the vehicle immediately and take shelter in a nearby building
• If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the vehicle and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck
• Stay alert to the potential for flooding

If you are told to shelter in place:

This term has several meanings. In many cases, it means to stay inside your home, office, classroom or location with the doors locked and window shade closed. This typically is done during a criminal investigation or other community emergency.  However, there is a shelter in place order that involves dangerous chemical or other toxic materials that are released into the air.

Here’s more on that type of shelter in place that requires you to seal yourself off from the outside air.