What do you do if you are in a car during a tornado?

What do you do if you are in a car during a tornado?

Stay low. Stay in your car, secured into your seat belt, and put your head down below the window–covering it with your hands or a blanket if you have one. Or, if you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

Is a car safer than a house in a tornado?

The theory that opening house windows can equalize pressure and prevent damage is a myth. You could be wasting valuable time getting to shelter. You are not any safer in a car than in a mobile home during a tornado. Avoid both and determine another safe place for your family.

Can a car drive through a tornado?

If winds are strong enough, cars can be blown over and picked up by the tornado. It is important to know what to do if you are driving and become caught in severe weather. Trying to outrun a tornado in your vehicle is the number one thing to remember not to do. The wind could potentially roll your car over.

Is a garage safe during tornado?

Are garages safe in a tornado? Because of numerous issues with safety regarding a garage in a tornado, garages should not be considered an adequate tornado shelter. The lack of interior walls and a large garage door make a garage unsuitable as a tornado shelter.

Is car in garage safe during tornado?

Why is a car not safe in a tornado?

Vehicles can also be deadly in a tornado. The more surface they present to the wind, the more easily they are blown from the road. Vans and school buses are particularly vulnerable. Cars have been lifted and moved as much as a quarter of a mile by a tornado.

What type of tornado can pick up a car?

An EF-1 tornado can push a moving car off the road and an EF-2 tornado can pick a car off the ground.

What should you never do during a tornado?

Things to Avoid Doing During a Tornado

• Not taking tornado warnings seriously. There are tornado warning false alarms all of the time.
• Look out the window.
• Open the windows of your house.
• Try to outrun a tornado.
• Take cover underneath an overpass.

Is it safe to be in a laundry room during a tornado?

The basic tornado safety guidelines apply if you live in an apartment. Get to the lowest floor, with as many walls between you and the outside as possible. In some cases, the apartment clubhouse or laundry room may be used as a shelter, provided the basic safety guidelines are followed.

What should you do if you are in a car during a tornado?

If the tornado is imminent and you are forced to stay in your car, the NWS recommends keeping your seat belt on and making sure your head is covered, below your windshield and windows to protect it from glass. The Red Cross recommends covering your head with a blanket, if you have one in the car.

Where is the least desirable place to be during a tornado?

The least desirable place to be during a tornado is in a motor vehicle. Cars, buses, and trucks are easily tossed by tornado winds. If you’re unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your vehicle and cover your head and neck or leave your vehicle and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

What should you stay away from during a tornado?

Stay away from windows and don’t go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gyms, or auditoriums. Long-span buildings, such as malls, theaters, and gyms, are especially dangerous because the roof is usually supported only by the outside walls.

Is it safe to stay in a mobile home during a tornado?

Don’t stay in a mobile home during a tornado. Mobile homes can turn over during strong winds. Even mobile homes with a tie-down system cannot withstand the force of tornado winds. If you live in a mobile home, go to a nearby building, preferably one with a basement.