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If you are in a car:
- Never try to outdrive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes can
change direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss it
through the air.
- Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby
building.
- If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in
a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle. Be aware of the
potential for flooding.
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Tornadoes are some of the most terrifying of weather
phenomenon. Winds in an F5 tornado - the highest of five rankings - can
reach 300 miles per hour and can lift homes off their foundations and
send cars flying through the air. Tornadoes are also deadly, killing an
average of 42 people in the U.S. each year. Last year, FEMA responded to
14 tornado-related federal disasters. The tornadoes that struck Georgia
in the early morning of February 14, killed more than a dozen people and
left whole neighborhoods destroyed. Spring is a traditionally busy
tornado time, although tornadoes can occur in virtually any state at any
time. What do you need to know about responding to a tornado threat?
The difference between tornado watches and warnings:
- A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when
tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching
storms. This is time to remind family members where the safest
places within your home are located, and listen to the radio or
television for further developments.
- A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or
indicated by weather radar. Mobile homes are particularly
vulnerable. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if
precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. When a tornado
warning is issued, take shelter in a building with a strong
foundation. If shelter is not available, lie in ditch or low-lying
area a safe distance away from the unit.
Last modified: Friday, November 21, 2003
03:46 AM
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What to
do if you're at home during a tornado:
- Go to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of
the building.
- If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a
smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or
closet.
- Get away from the windows.
- Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners
because they tend to attract debris.
- Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench
or heavy table or desk and hold on to it.
- Use arms to protect head and neck.
- If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.
What do to if you're outdoors:
- If possible, get inside a building.
- If shelter is not available or there is no time to get
indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a
strong building. Be aware of the potential for flooding.
- Use arms to protect head and neck.
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