Tornadoes are very dangerous windstorms. Take steps to protect yourself and your family by establishing a disaster safety plan:
If you are indoors:
Go immediately to the basement, storm cellar or the lowest level of the home.
If there is no basement, go to a closet, a bathroom or under a staircase.
Stay away from windows and doors.
Get under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a workbench or a heavy table. Hold onto the furniture with one hand and use the other arm to protect your head and neck from falling or flying objects.
Avoid being in the corners of the room because they attract debris.
If in a mobile home, get out and seek shelter elsewhere.
If you are outdoors:
If possible, get inside a building.
If there is no shelter, lie down in a ditch or ravine.
Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
Stay away from bridges and overpasses.
If you are in a vehicle:
Never try to out drive a tornado. Tornadoes can change direction suddenly and could lift up the car and toss it through the air.
Immediately stop the car and turn off the engine.
Get out of the car and seek shelter in a building, ditch or ravine.
Become familiar with your community’s severe weather warning system. Every member of your family should know what to do when a tornado watch or warning sounds. Learn about your disaster safety plans in the workplace and at your children’s school and/or childcare centre.
Create a family disaster safety plan. Assemble a disaster safety kit. Together, identify escape routes from your home and neighbourhood. Choose an emergency meeting place for the family. Be prepared!
The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
Toronto Office 20 Richmond Street East, Suite 210, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2R9 Tel: (416) 364-8677 Fax: (416) 364-5889
London Office Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory University of Western Ontario 1151 Richmond Street, London, Canada N6A 5B9 Tel: (519) 661-3234 Fax: (519) 661-4273
