June 2003

 

Preparing for Tornados
By: Art Schneider, SchneiderA@missouri.edu

Tornados can occur any month of the year. They develop during severe thunderstorms. April, May, and June are the months having the greatest frequency of tornados in Missouri. According to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, the typical tornado averages about 250 yards in width and has a destructive path of about 15 miles. Some tornadoes have been known to be as wide as one mile and leave a destructive path of more than 300 miles! Most commonly, tornados travel from a westerly to an easterly position.

Tornado watches are issued by the National Severe Storms Forecast Center in Kansas City and indicate conditions are right for a tornado to develop. At this time, you should close all doors inside your house. If a tornado does occur, closed doors reduce the amount of blowing debris. If family members have medications, collect them so that they are at hand in case a warning is issued. If someone is injured, having their medications available will alert medical staff to special needs.

A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or spotted by radar. When a warning is issued, you should seek shelter immediately. The safest place is a tornado shelter. It is best to take a mattress to cover yourself and the children. You should have a battery powered radio or television in the safety area so you will know when the warning is lifted and you can leave. Sometimes more than one tornado will develop from a storm.

If your home has a basement and does not have a separate shelter or designed safe room, go to the basement away from the windows and chimney. Hide under furniture or a stairwell.

If you live in a multiple family dwelling or your house does not have a basement, seek the lowest level in the central portion of the house, such as a bathroom, small room, closet or hallway. Avoid exterior walls and windows.

If you live in a mobile or modular home, it is best to evacuate to a nearby permanent structure. If none is available, go to a low spot such as a ditch or ravine.

In all instances protect your head. If you have a helmet, such as a bicycle helmet, wear it. If possible, avoid taking shelter immediately below where you have your appliances.

If you are in a car, in town, and see a tornado, get out of your car and go to a nearby building. If in open country, drive at a right angle away from the tornado. Do not try to outrun it. If you cannot avoid the tornado run to the nearest depression, such as a ditch, culvert or ravine, and lie flat. Protect your head and stay low to the ground.

To prepare, plan a tornado drill with your family so everyone knows where to go.

Keep an inventory of household possessions (written, photo or video) in a location away from your house, such as a safe deposit box or your place of work or at a relative’s house.

If a tornado strikes near you, be wary. Avoid areas with broken electric wires or damaged electrical equipment. Avoid igniting a match or lighter if you have natural gas or are around other flammable gas or fluids.

When a warning is sounded or if a tornado has caused damage, be aware that your emergency management agency and public safety officials will be very busy. Phone calls should only be made if of an urgent nature requiring immediate assistance.

We are very fortunate in this country to have NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Its weather radio service provides the latest information on weather conditions. In Missouri, very nearly 100 percent of the state is covered! Most retail and major discount stores sell the weather radio. It usually costs $40 or less. Buy a model that notes on the packaging it has SAME technology. SAME is an acronym for Specific Area Message Encoding. This allows for you to program it to your specific county, so you only receive broadcasts intended for your area.

Source: UMC Fire & Rescue Disaster Resources Handbook 2.