Tornado Safety Tips
- Go to a pre-designated area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level.
- If there is no basement, go to the center of a small interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
- Do not open windows.
- If in a mobile home, get out immediately and go to a pre-identified location such as the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.
- Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
- Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.
- Treat all fallen wires as if they are hot, or live wires- stay away from them.
- Have cell phone batteries fully charged
Hail Safety
If hail is predicted, park your vehicle inside your garage to protect it.
When the hail starts to fall, seek shelter. Don’t go outdoors to recover any plants, your car, garden furniture, or rescue any animals left outside. Hail falls to the ground at high speeds especially when accompanied by strong winds and although it has never caused any deaths in the U.S., several people have suffered severe injuries.
When a hailstorm occurs, stay indoors and keep away from windows, glass doors, and skylights that can shatter if hit by the hailstones. Avoid using phones and touching metallic objects like stoves, radiators, metal pipes, and sinks.