What is the main reason you should not take shelter under an overpass if a tornado is approaching you while you are in your car?
Because overpasses are death traps. The high winds from a tornado under an overpass can create a type of dangerous wind tunnel effect — and debris can be blown right through at dangerously high speeds, seriously hurting anyone under the bridge.
Where should you not hide during a tornado?
Although there is no completely safe place during a tornado, some locations are much safer than others. Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). If possible, avoid sheltering in a room with windows.
Where should you hide from a tornado on the highway?
Stay in your car, secured into your seat belt, and put your head down below the window–covering it with your hands or a blanket if you have one. Or, if you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
What should you never do during a tornado?
DON’T: Stand near windows or other glass objects. DO: Get out as quickly as possible and find a shelter or lie flat on low ground away from trees and cars, protecting your head. DON’T: Stay in the mobile home, even if it is tied down, as most tornadoes can destroy mobile homes that are tied down.
Where is the safest place in your basement during a tornado?
If you know from which direction the storm is coming, the opposite corner of the basement is the safest spot, reports The Tornado Project. In any case, a workbench, heavy table or stairwell will afford you the most protection when things begin to fly or fall.
Why don’t you go under a bridge during a tornado?
If an overpass is directly in the path of a tornado, the wind could change direction by nearly 180 degrees as the vortex passes. By climbing up higher to get under the overpass, you will be exposed to higher wind speeds and more flying debris. Flying debris become dangerous missiles in the tornado airflow.
Should you lay in a ditch during a tornado?
Drive to the closest shelter. The least desirable place to be during a tornado is in a motor vehicle. If you’re unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your vehicle and cover your head and neck or leave your vehicle and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
Why is it safe to lay in a ditch during a tornado?
The ditch is safer than out in the open, as you are much less likely to be hit by flying debris, or become flying debris yourself. “NOTHING” is “SAFE” during a tornado in your vicinity.
How do you tornado proof a basement?
Shelter Near the Center of the Basement For one, a spot near the center of the basement and away from any windows is key. Windows are susceptible to air pressure and flying objects, so it’s best to stay away from them in a tornado. Second, consider the weight of objects on the floor above you.
Where should you hide in a tornado without a basement?
If you don’t have a basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. Avoid taking shelter where there are heavy objects on the floor directly above you.
Are highway overpasses safe from tornadoes?
Many people mistakenly think that a highway overpass provides a safe haven from a tornado. The reality is that an overpass may be one of the worst places to seek shelter from a tornado. Using an overpass for your shelter can put you at a much greater risk of being killed or seriously injured by a tornado.
How dangerous is it to hide under a bridge during a tornado?
Although it might seem like the bridge over your head would protect you, hiding under an overpass or bridge is actually very dangerous, because a tornado’s winds can blast debris underneath the structure.
What should you do if you’re in the path of a tornado?
“Vehicles are notorious as death traps in tornadoes, because they are easily tossed and destroyed,” the SPC said. Your options depend on where the tornado is and what’s around you. If the tornado is far away or not heading toward you, the best option may be to head in the opposite direction and get out of its path.
Is it safe to open your windows during a tornado?
The SPC said it best: “Opening the windows is absolutely useless, a waste of precious time, and can be very dangerous. Don’t do it.” All it might get you is a bunch of debris blown into your house by a tornado’s fierce winds ― which could be dangerous. And if a tornado hits your house, it most likely will break the window anyway, the SPC noted.