In the United States and Canada there is a Tornado Season. It begins on April, peaks in June or July and ends in September. But storms as the public knows can occur and do occur at any time. Certainly, with the age of climate change upon us, the “Tornado Season” has become more difficult to predict
Tornadoes can move as fast as 70 miles per hour (112 km/h) and produce winds of more than 250 mph (400 km/h). They cause many deaths and injuries every year, as well as a great deal of property damage.
How do people know what to do to reduce the risks and damages that occur to their personal safety and property?
Some tornadoes occur without a tornado warning. And sometimes the warnings are missed. So, it’s important to recognize these signs of a tornado:
Powerful thunderstorms marked by frequent flashes of lightning;
Strong rotation in a cloud base;
Whirling dust or debris on the ground, beneath a cloud base
What to Do in the Face of a Tornado
Listen to your radio for tornado warnings during bad thunderstorms. If a tornado warning is issued, don’t panic. Instead, listen and look. Quickly, but calmly, follow the directions for getting to shelter.
If you have time before the tornado strikes, secure objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture that can injure people. While most tornado damage is a result of the violent winds, most injuries and deaths actually result from flying debris.
You should do the following:
Take cover. Go to the basement and crouch down under the stairs. Do not take an elevator. If you can’t get to a basement, go into a closet or bathroom. Or sit underneath a sturdy piece of furniture on the ground floor near the center of the building.
Stay away from windows and outside doors.
If possible, try to position yourself so that you are not below heavy objects (appliances, piano, etc.) on a floor above you. These objects might fall through a weakened floor.
Use a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress to protect yourself from flying debris. Pull your knees up under you and protect your head with your hands.
If you’re driving, safely park your car and get to a building. If you can’t get to a building, get away from the car, lie flat and face down in low ground and stay far from other cars or trees.
If possible, try to avoid being in a building with a wide-span roof, such as an auditorium, church or hall. These roofs are vulnerable to collapse in a tornado.