What if tornado

We understand that people are looking for any useful and effective ways to protect themselves. CDC has long made the recommendation that people try to protect their heads. Because the time to react may be very short, if people choose to use helmets they should know where they are and have them readily accessible.

Looking for a helmet in the few seconds before a tornado hits may delay you getting safely to shelter. If people choose to use helmets, these helmets should not be considered an alternative to seeking appropriate shelter.

Rather, helmets should be considered just one part of their overall home tornado preparedness kit to avoid any delay. CDC continues to promote protective measures for use during natural disasters including tornadoes. Tornadoes — Ready. National Weather Service Tornado Safety external icon. American Red Cross Tornado Safety external icon. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Natural Disasters and Severe Weather.

Section Navigation. You should make every attempt to get underground during a severe storm, either in a basement or storm shelter. If neither is possible, head to the innermost room or hallway on the lowest level of your home. The goal is to put as many walls between yourself and the outside world.

The image below, taken following the EF5 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, shows why this method could save your life. In many of those homes, the outer walls have been destroyed, but a few inner rooms are somewhat intact. You should make every effort to find a safe building for shelter. Instead, find a ditch, get down and cover your head.

Get as far from your vehicle as you can to prevent it from being blown onto you. If you're at home and severe weather is bearing down, prepare for the worst. If your house is damaged by a tornado, you could end up walking through debris that's riddled with nails, glass shards and splintered wood. The best way to ensure your shoes aren't scattered is to put on a pair before the storm comes.

If you own a bike helmet, be sure to put it on during a severe storm. Did you know that being hit by debris is the number one way people are injured or killed in tornado? Open the windows of your house. Speaking of windows, we want to set the record straight about opening them during a tornado. Some people do this because they believe that the pressure will equalize and the windows will not shatter.

This is a myth! According to the experts, opening the windows will only succeed in letting the winds into the house so that internal supports can be shaken apart which will weaken the house even more.

Try to outrun a tornado. A tornados average speed is mph across the ground, but can reach speeds up to 60 mph! If you think you are a fast driver and can outrun the tornado, think again. Your chances are slim-to-none when it comes to outrunning a tornado. As soon as you hear that tornado warning siren, seek shelter immediately and stay indoors. If you are nowhere near a shelter, you should stay in your car and buckle up or if possible, get below the level of the road like a ditch.