Protecting Yourself During a Tornado:  Safety Tips When Seconds Count

As much as we all wanted it to rain in the recent drought-ravaged years, many now hope for a break from it.

Our plentiful rain this season has often come during fast, destructive storms.

The storms Tuesday 6/16 left hundreds of families in Laurens County, SC and Cleveland County, NC, especially around Kings Mountain, with heavily damaged homes and other property and a long road to recovery.

I’ve covered my share of hurricanes and tornadoes.

Tornadoes scare me the most.

Thanks to modern weather forecasting technology, we see hurricanes coming well in advance.  Evacuation warnings are issued.  People in the storm’s path have more than adequate opportunity to secure their property get out of the hurricane’s way.

Tornadoes are a vastly different story.

Though our ability to pinpoint where a tornado could hit and issue warnings has improved dramatically during my time as a journalist, a tornado hits with such sudden, random and mighty force, it leaves still leaves people with little time to react.

Because your reaction time may be short, and you might be somewhere other than the familiar surroundings of home when a tornado strikes, I asked News Channel 7 Chief Meteorologist Christy Henderson for the best things you can do to be prepared for a tornado’s sudden danger.  She provided these safety precautions from the American Red Cross:

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Pick a place where family members could gather if a tornado is headed your way. It could be your basement or, if there is no basement, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest floor. Keep this place uncluttered.
If you are in a high-rise building, you may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor. Pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building.  Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit containing:

First aid kit and essential medications.
Canned food and can opener.
At least three gallons of water per person.
Protective clothing, bedding, or sleeping bags.
Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you’ll need a professional to turn natural gas service back on.)
When a Tornado WARNING Is Issued…

If you are inside, go to the safe place you picked to protect yourself from glass and other flying objects. The tornado may be approaching your area.

If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot get to shelter, a recent study suggests doing the following:

Get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt, and try to drive at right angles to the storm movement and out of the path.
If strong winds and flying debris occur while you are driving, pull over and park, keeping seat belts on and the engine running. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.
If you are unable to get to a building or vehicle, as a last resort, lie in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.

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You may want to print out these tips and keep them posted in a spot where you could grab them quickly, such as the door of your refrigerator or the family bulletin board.

It’s a good idea to give serious advance thought to where the safest place in your home would be in the event of tornado danger.

You never know when a few seconds could make a life or death difference.