Tornado Safety?

Question

How do you know when to go to a shelter?
I live in a mobile home now, just moved there. And I worry about knowing what to do if a tornado would happen. (my last apartment was blown down by a tornado, luckily I was in the hospital having my baby at the time....luckily??? hmmm...anyhow)
The web-site I just read on tornado safety says to GET OUT of the trailer.....but what I worry about is,
what if the tornado is already too close? What if you open the door and can see it or something? Or what if your leaving the trailer and going toward the shelter, but the tornado is somewhere out there and you may unintentionally be putting yourself closer to it. Kinda know what Im asking? Some help would be nice, thanks.

Uhhh CATBARF, sometimes by the time the siren goes off the thing is already up in your Kool-aid. Thats the point of my question, no need to be rude!

Answer 1

You need a weather band radio. They just passed that law where I live, that if you live in a mobile home you have to have one.

Answer 2

You cannot always see a tornado. Mobile homes are often the first type of home that is destroyed even with straight winds. I would be sure and watch the weather closely this time of year and if you are in a tornado warning and the cloud is very visible (don't wait to see the tornado itself) then take cover in a permanent structure with a foundation and stay away from windows. This does not have to be a quote "Tornado shelter", but a building with a foundation.

DO NOT get in your car if the storm is close. Cars are even more dangerous to be in than your mobile home. But, I agree that is a good idea to leave the mobile home, but use common sense and don't panic if a storm is near. Remember that many people has survived tornadoes by simple getting into a ditch that is lower than the ground above. The tornado will often pass over the top of you.

Remember that bathrooms in a home with a foundation are the safest place to be if the bathroom has no windows. Always cover yourself with a mattress or blanket so that flying glass has less of a chance to harm you.

Answer 3

I used to live in a mobile home when i was a child and the thought of tornadoes freaked me out. The best thing you can do is be prepared at all times. I suggest getting a weather radio or have storm warnings sent to a cell phone. As soon as there is a big storm headed towards you or a warning has been issued, get out of the mobile home and either to to a shelter or family member's basement. I think you're even safer going outside to a ditch than to stay in the mobiel home.

Answer 4

A ditch might afford some protection, but if there's a culvert pipe in the ditch you could scoot into you'd be safer. If there is any kind of concrete block building around, try going there. If worse comes to worse and the TV or radio tells you to take cover because a tornado is on the way, grab a mattress, sleeping bags, quilts and such, go into the smallest room in the trailer, wrap up with the quilts and if possible, crawl under the mattress. Crawl into the bathtub and pull the mattress over you or if you have a big, strong 4 legged table, crawl under it and pull the mattress over the top of you two. Stay away from windows. Keep the TV or radio on for warnings. Good luck.

Answer 5

Do as the website says and get out of a mobile home if your area is threatened by tornados. You should always seek shelter in a low lying area like a storm cellar or basement. If you are in a home or builing, move to an interior room with no windows. If you are stuck outside, find a ditch and take shelter there.

Answer 6

If you live in a mobile home, if a tornado warning is issued for your area, GET OUT. It doesn't matter if the Tornado is practically on top of you. You are MUCH more likely to survive if you GET OUT of the mobile home. People die in mobile homes because of one of two reasons: a) The mobile home is actually lifted up and tossed about with you inside, or b) The mobile home explodes because of the difference in air pressure as the tornado sucks up all the air around the mobile home.

You will always have a much better chance of surviving a tornado if you are NOT in a portable building when it hits.

In most cases you'll have several minutes warning at least, and sometimes more...which should be adequate time to get yourself to the nearest place of refuge.

Answer 7

Stardawn, just get your *** in gear and stop pondering all the maybe's. I presume that you have some type of warning system like a siren. If by some quirk of fate, the system is down and you SEE the tornado, I'd take my chances and head for the shelter. Remember that tornados generally move from the SW to the NE, so if you can (and should) orient yourself at the trailer door, you can figure out the probable threat to you from the tornado (if it is N or E of you, the threat is less).

Answer 8

Move away from Tornado ally, you can live in other areas of the worl and still live a fruitful life. That's why i don't live there because I don't want to deal with the possibility of a tornado destroying my home. i have had 2 house fires and that's devistating enough. It hurts to see homes destroyed and people dead after a tornado strikes.

Answer 9

Hopefully there is a ditch or low area close to your trailer.... that's the safest place, the lower, the better. Put your baby in one of those carriers that holds him close to your body, get in the ditch and use your body to shield him.

Answer 10

listen to the radio and get underground