tornado 101

[calimac]

I'm about to head out to a part of the world where there's been a lot of tornadoes lately. Most likely I'll never encounter one, so that possibility is covered. But what about the other possibility, that by chance I do? I know what to do during an earthquake (and often enough have done it), and hurricanes move slowly and usually allow long warnings that they're coming, but aside from a few dust devils in the Central Valley I've had no encounter with tornadoes.

Let's say I'm driving along in my rented car, and there's been a tornado warning on the radio, and off in the distance I see a tornado. What am I supposed to do? How do I stay out of its way? How do I know what direction it's likely to be going? What do I do if I can't get out of its way? What if it's behind me, and it sees me before I see it? What if I'm not in my car, and there's no other people around to follow?

Comments

[yarram.livejournal.com]

I am not an expert, but this is what I've been told growing up:

1. There is no good way to predict which way a tornado will travel, but if you see one, your best bet is to travel perpendicular to its apparent path and away from the twister.
2. But really, if you see one while driving, pull over to the shoulder and do a duck-and-cover in the lowest spot you can find (probably the roadside ditch). An underpass will do in a pinch.

Bear in mind that if you find expert advice elsewhere, ignore me and follow that.

[scribblerworks.livejournal.com]

Behind the wave in the question, but "an underpass will do in a pinch" is NOT TRUE.

Underpasses increase the wind suction of the torando, so they are terrible places to shelter.

The lowest place you can find, more out in the open, is better. It's counter-intuitive, but much better physics.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Here's what I did, failing all else, if I was driving and the sky turned suddenly weird green and sideways rain flew, I spotted the nearest truck and stuck to its bumper. It if stopped, I did. If It rolled, I did, in its wake. That got me through three or four truly scary storms when I drove to the Tennessee Mythcon via Massachusetts and NY and DC and Virginia and Kentucky.

[jpmassar.livejournal.com]

Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead leave it immediately.

If caught outside or in a vehicle, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression.


http://gohsep.la.gov/factsheets/whattodoinatornado.htm

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

I grew up in tornado country. The ditch stuff is what I was told as well, with the additional suggestion that you don't want to be right next to your car in that ditch. The tornado could well drop any random crap on your head, but there's no need to give it extra ammo. Move a few yards away from the car, but keep yourself in the ditch.

The ditch advice is only for if you actually see a funnel cloud. If the sky turns green and you can get to a shelter, get there.