Recently we had a F-5 blow through the area. It did 100 million dollars worth of damage and took some lives in its wake. I would like to give a few tips on what to do in case one forms your way. Please feel free to add your tips and or memories.

If a watch is issued, it means that a tornado is possible. If a tonado warning is issued, it means that a tornado has actually been spotted, or is strongly indicated on radar and it is time to go to a safe shelter immediately.
* Indoors:
Avoid windows (dont open them). Go to the lowest floor; a basement or small center room like a bathroom or closet. Crouch as low as posible to the floor, facing down. Cover your head with your hands. Cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (matress or blankets), to protect against falling debris.

* In a vehicle
Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado. Park the vehicle, get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which over little protection from flying debris.

* Outdoors
Lie flat and face down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you.

Mmmmm... this isn't Scott's Tornado Tips thread... wonder what happened?

EDIT: Oh it is now - weird [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img]

[ 04-30-2002, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: Epona ]

more tips:

1) You cannot EAT a tornado

2) You cannot swim in it

:0

Remember the huge one in the Wizard of OZ?
Appearently alot of things go on inside them that we don't know..numerous possibilitys. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Are these your final answers? ;)

What did happen? When I posted this it sent me to a different thread for a couple of seconds...weird is right Epona, never had that happen before.

I beg to differ. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

It was very odd Scott - I clicked the title from the index page and got some other thread. Then I hit reply (since I was going to post that in the thread I got) and when it took me back to the thread, here I was after all.

Hadn't even been drinking LOL, and you know I like my beer [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Incidentally, I've never seen a tornado - and I never want to [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img]

[ 04-30-2002, 05:59 PM: Message edited by: Epona ]

This one hit about 45 minute drive from the house. The winds did snap a tree in my back yard but it positioned so it fell into the woods.

LaPlata, MD is hurting bad. Damn thing plowed right into the small town and quick. All the doppler equipment and no one warned quickly enough.? We arent use to this stuff. This is the first F-5 here that I know of..? Strange weather patterns this year for sure. Mybe some of you tornado belt folks could add a couple of tips. Dont worry, you can twist things out of context if you want ;)

I've sat through a hurricane before - and like you say because we don't get them often we just weren't prepared for it. Some rural areas were without power for nearly a month after it hit and there was no infrastructure in place to arrange getting the roads cleared - everyone with a chainsaw went out to help which is great, everyone really pulled together, but it took a while to do it.

I found it scary and exhilarating at the same time - I think fear and excitement are 2 sides of the same coin.

Well our tornado warning system just went off. Good thing we are all in the basement :D

i've been through plenty of hurricaines better never seen a tornado.hurricaines are fun.but i guess thats because i'm crazy. :D

I like "his-a-canes" too, Tornados are a different animal even with the new weather radars their unpredicable as anything. We've been through 5 in Tuscaloosa, all have gone south of us.

Do's on tornados.

1.) Do CHASE a tornado.
2.) Do stand right where the window is holding your new Samsung JV-13362C4A $999 dollar video camera then go running for cover... Run outside and yell at the tornado.
3.) If running to a shelter, make your girl go outside first (hey, if she get's sucked up, no more temper tantrums eh? You're a free bird now :D )
And last but not least...
4.) Stand near power lines, more safety under them.

Wasn't that crazy Conan? We really lucked out not getting any major damage our way, it is so hugely rare to have an F5 around here too! Glad I have a basement, feel sorry for those in the highrises, I could see dark black clouds looming all around one that I can see from my window here on Sunday, what are they supposed to do, and how many actually would do it in time?

Has a tornado ever hit a highrise before anywhere? I can't recall ever hearing of that happening. Anyone? Just curious.

Beltazar,
That would not be uncommon actions for someone living in a underground structure...wouldn't know what to do mybe.. ;) Mixing humor with real life situations helps me deal with it a little better..thanks.

Lady Z, The only thing I could think of is blowing debris into the windows. Not many people around here are ready to screw plywood to their windows like in Florida. The structures are all re-inforced concrete so it is unlikely that any swaying would happen and the winds would flow around them..?(sounds good anyway)

John, I hope we have some refreshments down there.. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hey You're not alone dude! I LOVE hurricaines! :D It's really cool when the EYE passes over you, you can just sit and everything is so calm while all around you the clouds are swirling like mad!

MAJOR QUESTION...WHY DO YOU NOT OPEN WINDOWS DURING A TORNADO?

I was raised to open them to allow air flow through the house, to keep a vacuum from being created inside which will cause the windows to implode!
(Of course you stay away from windows to keep from getting hit by debris that could fly in)

The last tornado that went through here proved that right when KHaN's aunt and uncle were trapped in the city when the tornado was blowing through and they got home to a house full of glass that had no windows left!

Just so you know I am no tornado dummy...I grew up in southwest Ohio and we experienced them every year (anyone remember Xenia?)

Since I've been in Texas, I see Tornado Don't's that say to keep the windows shut and I want to know when the rules changed and most of all WHY?!

[ 05-01-2002, 01:48 AM: Message edited by: Moni ]

so how WOULD you eat a tornado then?

the sauce wouldn't stay on it [img]redface.gif[/img]

Mybe it's an icecream bar or something called tornado..?

Moni, Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the structure. Leave the windows alone; go to a safe place. Violent winds over 150 mph and debris slamming into buildings cause most structural damage. Wind pressure is what damages a house-not air pressure. The reasons why walls and roofs go but the coffee maker on the kitchen table remains is that large objects have more force placed on them than small objects. If roofs and walls are not properly secured, they can easily become airborne. Hope this helps.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TORNADO TIP EVER!!!

TO avoid problems with tornados just dont live where they are common, DUH!!!

About the taking shelter under overpasses/bridge. Yes, they are a bad idea but not because they don't protect you from debris. It's because they cause a Venturi effect. The air flow that goes under the bridge is compressed and travels faster than the airflow on top or beside the bridge. This cause an intense low pressure area (vacuum) that will just suck you out of your spot. Once you're sucked out, you're in for the ride of your life... and most often you end up loosing your life at the end of the ride.