If a tornado arrives, seek shelter immediately (in the following sections the best shelters will be mentioned). If the tornado is still far, you can help a lot of people if you report it to a local or television station. Use common sense and be very cautious: If you believe your life is in danger, don’t waste time and seek shelter as soon as possible.
How to seek shelter
Tornadoes can surprise us at any place (the home, the car, work, school, etc.). Talk to your family members about the best ways to protect yourselves during a tornado in case you are not with them to provide any help.
Your possibilities of surviving a tornado will increase with good preparation, planning and practice. You and your family members must know what to do when a tornado is approaching beforehand. Most injuries and deaths are produced by objects moved lifted by the strong winds. If no place is completely safe, some places are safer than others.
At home
Choose a shelter where everyone will gather in case a tornado approaches. The most important thing is that the place is far away from windows (the glass can burst with the pressure and cause severe injuries and even death).
The safest place at a home is the basement furthest away from external walls and windows. If there is no basement, choose an internal room in the lower level that has no windows such as a hallway or a bathroom.
Try to get under a resistant table. If possible, cover your body with a blanket, a sleeping bag or mattress and protect your head with anything possible (even your arms). Try not to take shelter in rooms next to or underneath heavy object such as refrigerators or pianos because the floor may weaken.
In a mobile home
NEVER STAY IN A MOBILE HOME DURING A TORNADO. Mobile homes may tip over with strong winds. Even mobile homes with anchor systems are not able to endure the winds carried by tornadoes.
Prepare and analyze your options. Try to seek shelter in a nearby home, preferably one with a basement. If there is no home nearby, lay on the floor, in a ditch, canal or sewer and protect your head with your arms.
If you live in the area with frequent tornadoes, talk to the rest of the members of your community so you can all build a shelter together.
In the highway
The worst place you can be during a tornado is in a vehicle. Cars, trucks and buses are easily tipped over by the strong winds.
DO NOT TRY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO IN YOUR CAR. If you see a tornado, stop the vehicle and get out. Do hide under your car. Take shelter according to the following paragraph:
Outdoors
If there is no shelter available, stay away from trees and cars, lie on a ditch, canal and protect your head with your arms.
Buildings with wide ceilings
Buildings with wide ceilings such as cinemas, gyms or shopping malls are very dangerous because the roof is only supported by the lateral walls. In these buildings most roofs collapse with the strength of the winds of a tornado.
If you are inside a building of this kind, stay away from windows and go to the least elevated point of the building (preferably the basement).
If there is no time to go to a safe place, try standing under a door frame or any part of the structure that provides protection. If you are at a cinema, go under the booths.
Offices, schools, hospitals, churches and other public buildings
Special precautions should be taken at offices, schools, hospitals and any place with large windows and high concentration of people.
If you are at one of these places, stay away from glass windows and walls; go to the center of the building in the lowest part possible; don’t use elevators, you could be trapped if power is interrupted; cover your head and crouch.
Shelter for people with special needs
If you require some type of particular assistance it is important to have a plan for emergency cases (some of the most important points will be covered next).
If you are in a wheelchair stay away from the windows and go to an inner room of your home. If possible, seek shelter under a solid table or desk. Cover your head with anything available or your arms.
If you are not able to move and are in a bed or chair, try to cover your head with bed sheets and pillows.
If you are outdoors and the tornado is very close already, go to a ditch, canal or sewer and protect your head with your arms.
