A tornado is a powerful and dangerous column of air spiraling around a central point of low atmospheric pressure. It is also known as twisters or cyclones. Tornado can form very quickly, sometimes within minutes or even less than that. It travels very fast across the grounds and can be very destructive. There can be weak tornadoes, strong tornadoes and violent tornadoes. Violent tornadoes can lead to vast destruction with wind blowing at the speed of 250 mph or even more than that. They can be of various shapes and sizes. It’s very important for you to be well prepared before tornado so that you can be able to avert any eventuality. The following instructions and tips will help you in preparing to tackle tornado. Read on.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 30-60 minutes
Resources Required:
- Flash Lights
- Extra batteries for lights
- Battery operated radio for weather updates and extra batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Food and water
- Important medicines for infants or disabled
- well built shoes
- Sleeping bags
- Tools like hammer, rope, sharp knife
- Blankets and warm cloths
- Fully charged cell phone (in case you get signal)
Instructions:
1. Choose an appropriate hiding place: Choose a place at home to hide during tornado. Choose the lowest place in your home like basement. Practice with your family that how quickly you can reach there during a tornado.
2. Discuss with family: Discuss every little detail you have planned with your family. Tell them what they would have to do at the time of emergency. Tell them about the different terminologies like tornado watch and warning. A tornado watch is issued when conditions are appropriate for a tornado to occur. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been seen or has been noticed on radar in your area.
3. Prepare an emergency plan: Prepare an emergency plan in case you or any other family member get separated from other family members or if all the family members are at different places like office, school or market. Always have a plan for getting back together with your family members. You can decide a common place to meet in case of emergency occurs. Have an emergency contact list.
4. Cover your head: Make sure you cover your head during tornado to protect it from flying debris.Stay away from windows and flying pieces of broken glasses.
5. Prepare a supply box: Always have a box prepared with necessary supplies in case you immediately have to move to your hiding place. Keep all the essential supplies like first aid kit, flash lights, extra batteries, radio operated with batteries, sufficient water for all your family members, medicines, canned food and a can opener, other things as per your requirement. When emergency occurs all you have to do is pick your supply box and run to safe place.
6. Keep the track of weather and direction: Always keep the track of weather. Tornadoes can occur any time. Also keep track of weather conditions and during and after the tornado. You should also keep a check on which direction tornado is moving.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How the strength of a tornado is measured?
There are several different scales to measure strength of tornadoes. The Fujita Scale is used to measure the strength of tornadoes. A rating of F0 or EF0 is the weakest category of tornado. It can damage trees. An F5 or EF5 rating is the strongest category of tornado. It can destroy buildings and other large structures. Similarly, TORRO scale ranges from a T0 for very weak tornadoes to T11 for the very powerful tornadoes.
Quick Tips:
- If you are in a car when tornado occurs, park the car to the side of the road. Get out of the car and find a safe place to hide like a ditch.
- Make sure you have turned off the gas before leaving during tornado.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Do not stay in mobile homes. They don’t offer much protection from tornadoes.
- Do not try to overrun a tornado in your car.
