As for the unstoppable temperament of tornadoes, it is estimated that most people have only felt it in movies, so if one day we really encounter tornadoes, our first reaction should be what?
Hiding, of course! Get up! Come on!
Because you have no idea that what will fly from what next second! And you won’t know how lethal it is!
However, when a tornado comes, you may be at home, on the road or in the shopping mall. Where is it safer to hide in these different places?
The following is an introduction to different evasion methods according to different locations.
Location 1: Home
Correct approach: Hide in basement, lower floor or other rooms without windows, protect head and neck and stay away from windows.
If you are at home when a tornado comes, the first principle in choosing a place to avoid is to avoid! Open! Window! Household! Because a burst window can cause fatal injury.
- If there is a basement in the home: the basement is the safest place to escape, enter it as soon as possible; If there is no basement in the home: you can choose rooms without windows, such as walkways, toilets and storerooms; If you live in a villa or duplex building, you must choose the lower floor to hide, and when choosing the lower floor, don’t choose the room with large and heavy furniture (such as piano and refrigerator) facing the upper floor room, because tornadoes may cause the floor to collapse, and if the furniture falls down, it may directly hit you. Improve the safety factor: If there happens to be relatively strong furniture, such as workbench or desk, you can hide under these furniture and cover your whole body with sleeping bags, blankets or mattresses. Protect your head and neck: No matter where you hide, you should try your best to huddle your body and hold your head with your hands, or protect your head and neck with what you can use at hand.
Location 2: Movable rooms (e.g. Movable plank rooms)
Correct approach: Run out and protect your head and neck.
Movable houses (such as common movable plank houses) are easily overturned by strong winds, so when tornadoes come, don’t expect them to protect you.
- Get out of the room at the first time, look for and hide in other relatively safe places, such as buildings with basements nearby or ditches nearby; Try to huddle up your body and hold your head with your hands, or protect your head and neck with what you can use at hand.
Location 3: In the car
Correct approach: Stop the car, go out to find a safe haven, and protect the head and neck.
Since private cars, buses and even trucks are easily overturned by tornadoes, hiding in cars is extremely unwise.
- Stop the car immediately, don’t think you can escape the danger by stepping on the accelerator. The speed of the tornado can definitely exceed your speed. Hide in a relatively safe place nearby (you can find a safe place according to the above tips); Try to huddle up your body and hold your head with your hands, or protect your head and neck with what you can use at hand. Don’t hide under the car!
Venue 4: Outdoor
Correct approach: Avoid the woods and protect the head and neck.
If you happen to be outdoors when the tornado occurs and there is no safe shelter nearby, you can do at least the following two things:
- Avoid the woods; Try to huddle up your body and hold your head with your hands, or protect your head and neck with what you can use at hand.
Location 5: Large indoor buildings (such as shopping malls, cinemas, gymnasiums, etc.)
Correct approach: Hide in the basement or lower floor, protect your head and neck and stay away from the window.
The roofs of some large indoor buildings, such as shopping malls, theatres, cinemas, gymnasiums, etc., easily collapse when tornadoes occur.
- Take the time to hide in the basement or the lowest floor and stay away from the window. If the time is too late, you can choose to hide under the doorframe or strong furniture, which can reduce the damage to you caused by flying or falling objects to a certain extent. When you are in the shopping mall, you can choose strong shelves or toll counters as hiding places. When you are in the theater, you can hide under the seat. Try to huddle up your body and hold your head with your hands, or protect your head and neck with what you can use at hand.
Location 6: Office buildings, schools, churches and other public places
Correct approach: hide in the lower floor, protect your head and neck, and stay away from windows and elevators.
Generally speaking, there are many people in public places such as office buildings, schools and churches, and many buildings will be equipped with large windows. When a tornado occurs, the following actions should be taken:
- Stay away from windows and glass doors; Try to hide in a lower-level room without windows. Don’t use the elevator, in case of power failure, you will be trapped in the elevator. Try to huddle up your body and hold your head with your hands, or protect your head and neck with what you can use at hand.
Special circumstances: people with limited movement
Correct approach: Protect your head and neck and stay away from the window as far as possible.
Even if the activity is limited, you can take some actions to protect yourself when a tornado comes.
- If you are in a wheelchair, take the time to move to a room without windows and stay close to the wall. If possible, try to hide under stronger furniture, and put your hands around your head, or protect your head and neck with what you can use at hand. If you are in bed or seat and cannot move your position by yourself, try to cover your whole body with a quilt or pillow.