What to do to save your life if a tornado threatens

It's a partly cloudy day; the humidity is opressive, there's a "stickier" feeling to the air, a heaviness, much more than usual; the winds are gusty.

To the southwest & west of your home, thunderstorms are developing. They are intensifying rapidly, & several of them "go severe," with dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, large hail, heavy rainfall & damaging winds; suddenly, one of them has developed a tornado!

You're cooking dinner for yourself & your family. You notice that the lighting in your home seems to be changing; when you look out, you notice that the clouds are lower, darker, & agitated...they seem to be rotating. Lightning splits the skies; a constant rumble of thunder is heard. Leaves & dirt are blowing in the freshening wind; concerned, you turn on the television, & a breaking weather story confirms that a tornado is headed directly for your area.

NOW WHAT DO YOU DO????

BEFORE a tornado threatens, you should have already--

* held tornado drills & designated an area in your home or business that is a safe shelter. Every member of your family should know where to go in the event of a tornado or other disaster.

* known the difference between a WATCH & a WARNING (a WATCH means conditions are right for tornadoes & severe thunderstorms--WATCH OUT! A WARNING means that a tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar; the storm is imminent; WARNING! TAKE COVER NOW!!!).

* packed disaster supplies--
--portable flashlights with extra batteries
--portable radio with extra batteries
--first aid kid with manual
--emergency food & water for every member of your family (3 day supply)
--non-electric can opener
--essential medications for every member of your family
--cash, credit cards, check book
--dry socks, sturdy shoes, change of clothes for each family member

* developed an emergency communications plan--have a contact person in another area of the city, county, or even out of state. Each member of the family should know the name, address & phone number of that person.

IN YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS--

* IF YOU'RE IN A MOBILE HOME, GET OUT. NOW! Mobile homes & trailers will NOT stand up to even the weakest tornadoes. Find shelter elsewhere!

* Get to the lowest floor or interior room AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! A basement or storm cellar is best; if you don't have one of these, get into an inner hallway or small interior room WITHOUT WINDOWS, such as a centrally located closet or bathroom. (And don't I wish I HAD a basement or storm cellar, living in the middle of Tornado Alley...I have to hide in a teeny, tiny, itsy-bitsy half bathroom!!)

* Get under sturdy furniture or heavy table (such as a workbench), grab hold, hang on, & PRAY!

* Use your arms to protect your head & neck.

* Avoid free-span roofs--auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways, shopping malls. Get into a small, inner hallway or interior room.

IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE--

* GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE. Most people die trying to drive away from the tornado. A vehicle is even worse than a mobile home. It doesn't take much wind power to lift it from the road. Get into a building if possible.

* DO NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER AN OVERPASS. You'll block the road for traffic or emergency vehicles; it is against the law; the winds intensify under an overpass (like a wind-tunnel effect) & can rip you out of there in nothing flat. Many people lost their lives on May 3, 1999, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, trying to escape the tornado. It pulled them right out. Remember that video of the news team outrunning that tornado in Kansas? They were lucky--the tornado was a small one & didn't hit the overpass directly. If it had been an F-3 or bigger & if it had passed directly over where they were...they would NOT have survived. Get into a building, if possible.

* AS A LAST RESORT, if no building is available? Get into a ditch or other low spot...cover your head & neck with your arms...PRAY...& be aware of flash flood dangers.

AFTERWARDS--

* Help those that are trapped or injured. Stay out of damaged buildings. Give first aid when appropriate. DO NOT MOVE THOSE SERIOUSLY INJURED, UNLESS THEIR VERY LIFE IS IN DANGER!!!!

* Call for help.

* Check for gas leaks or power lines--turn off gas lines, electricity at main breaker box (DON'T SMOKE OR TOUCH DOWNED POWER LINES).

* Turn on portable radio & follow further emergency instructions & listen for weather updates.

* LISTEN TO AUTHORITIES. They are there to help. Do NOT go home until directed to.

* Use telephones for emergencies ONLY!

* Clean up any spills immediately, if possible. LEAVE AREA if you smell smoke, gas, or other chemical odor; call proper authorities to report it. DON'T SMOKE!

* Take pictures of the damage--both the exterior & interior of your home & car, including its contents--for insurance purposes.