I don't want to end up in Oz!

Hang on, Toto!!!!

Anyone who has seen the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" knows how Dorothy and Toto got to the
land of Oz from the farm stead in Kansas.  The iconic scene of a tornado lifting the farm house up into the air with Dorothy and Toto inside still frightens many people.  The thought of being picked up high into the sky by a devastating tornado and then flung far away is a very scary thought.  What is even scarier is the possibility of losing your life due to a tornado.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.  First, before a tornado even gets a chance to come your way, it is suggested that you have a plan in place based on the kind of dwelling in which you live.  Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds and practice a tornado drill at least once a year.  Also, have a pre-determined place to meet after a disaster in case you become separated before, during, or after the storm.  Since flying debris is the greatest danger during a tornado, be sure to store protective coverings (mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc.) in or near your shelter place so you can use them on a few seconds' notice.  I also suggest buying a NOAA Weather Radio to alert you in the event a tornado is possible or is imminent.

When a tornado watch is issued for your area, this means that conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes.  Stay alert for warnings from local television and radio stations and your NOAA Weather Radio.  Also, keep an eye on the sky!  Some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning (weather forecasting science is not perfect - who knew?)!  Therefore, there is no substitute for staying alert to the sky.  Here are some things to look and listen for even if a tornado is not visibly evident:

1. A strong, persistent rotation in the base of the cloud.
2. Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base - sometimes tornadoes have no visible funnel!
3. Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift.  Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen!
4. A loud, continuous roar or rumble which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
5. At night, look for small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to lightning up in the clouds).  These mean power lines are being snapped by a very strong wind or perhaps a tornado.
6. At night, us the storm's lightning to help you look for a tornado.  Look for a persistent lowering from the base of the clouds, illuminated or silhouetted by the storm's lightning, especially if it is on the ground or there are the blue-green to white flashes described in #5.

Do not panic.... follow your emergency plan!

When a tornado warning is issued for your area (which means a tornado is imminent or has been
spotted) or you identify a tornado from the previous tips, take action immediately.  You may have only moments to seek shelter!

• In a home with a basement:  Avoid ALL windows.  Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (like a heavy table or work bench) and/or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag.  Know where the very heavy objects are on the floor above (like refrigerators, freezers, stoves, pianos, etc.) and do NOT go under them.  If the floor becomes weakened, they could fall through and crush you.  Also, if you have a helmet, you can put that on too to offer some protection for your head.
• In a home with NO basement, a dorm, or an apartment:  Again, avoid ALL windows.  Get to the lowest floor, a small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows.  Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down and cover your head with your hands (just like you practiced in school tornado drills).  If you can climb in a bathtub, it may also offer a shell of partial protection.  Even in an interior room, cover yourself with some sort of thick padding to protect your self from falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.
• In an office building, hospital, nursing home, or skyscraper:  Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building, away from glass and on the lowest floor possible.  Then crouch down and cover your head.  Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly.  Stay off the elevators as you could be trapped inside them if the power is lost.
• In a mobile home:  Get out... Get out... GET OUT!!!!!  Even if your home is tied down, it is not as safe as an underground shelter or permanent, sturdy building.  Go to one of those shelters or a nearby permanent structure.  Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes, and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it.
• At school:  Follow the drill!  Go to an interior hallway or room in an orderly way as you are told.  Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms.  Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.
• In a car or truck:  Vehicles are extremely risky in a tornado since they are easily tossed!  There is no safe option when caught in a tornado in a car, just slightly less-dangerous ones.  If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado.  Seek shelter in a sturdy building or underground if possible.  If you are caught by extreme winds or flying debris, park the car as quickly and safely as possible and out of the traffic lanes.  Stay in the car with the seat belt on.  Put your head down below the windows, cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat, or cushion if possible.  If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.  Avoid seeking shelter under bridges and overpasses, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.
• In the open outdoors:  If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building.  If not, lie flat and face down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms.  Get as far away from trees and cars as you can since they may be blown onto you in a tornado.
• In a shopping mall or large store:  Do not panic.  Watch for others and move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room, or other small enclosed area away from windows.
• In a church or theater:  Again, so not panic.  If possible, move quickly and orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows.  Crouch face down and protect your head with your arms.  If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.

After the tornado, keep your family together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.  Carefully render aid to those who are injured.  Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them since they may still be carrying electricity.  Watch your step to avoid broken glass, nails, and other sharp objects.  Stay out of any heavily damaged houses or buildings since they could collapse at any time.  Do NOT use matches or lighters in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby.  Remain calm and alert, and listen for information and instructions from emergency crews or local officials.

It is wise to have an emergency survival kit on hand
for any emergency, including tornadoes.

If you follow these tips, you may be able to survive a direct hit from a tornado.  Be smart and practice tornado safety at least once a year, maybe even during a state-wide tornado drill.  Wisconsin's state-wide tornado drill is this coming Thursday, April 18th at 1:00 p.m..  In the event that there is severe weather that day, it will be postponed until Friday, April 19th.  Also, it is also wise to have a disaster preparedness kit ready, to help you with and after any emergency, including a tornado.  To learn more about creating a disaster preparedness kit, go to http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.  You can also buy them online at many, many locations.  Just be prepared.  You never know what Mother Nature has in store.  Just ask Dorothy and Toto!