Expert Offers Tips For Surviving A Tornado
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Tornadoes are frightening displays of Mother Nature's power. It was March 2011, when one ripped through Westmoreland County.
"We just got into the basement door," said Robyn Aaron, who was at home with her family in Sewickley Township when it hit.
"We heard crashing and banging," said Aaron. "We just laid there, and it was scary. It was terrible sounding like freight trains coming."
When it finally passed, they were all okay, but the home's roof was gone, their brick house was destroyed.
In case you ever have to face what the Aaron family did, KDKA-TV's David Highfield asked Matthew Kramar from the National Weather Service for some advice.
The Biggest Mistake:
He says the biggest mistake many people make is wanting to confirm there's a tornado coming, before taking cover.
"You hear a tornado warning, and everyone runs out with their camera to the porch to film the storm coming in," said Kramar.
He said that is extremely dangerous, and it costs you valuable time.
"Seconds can make the difference," he said.
In Your Car:
If you happen to be driving, you've probably seen video of people seeking cover under highway overpasses, but Kramar says to never do that:
"A bridge essentially acts like a wind tunnel," he said.
For some people, it became a fatal mistake.
Instead, if you're in your car, try to get to a building. Kramar says that's always the best choice.
If debris is already flying, and there's nowhere to go, experts say pull over. Try to get to an area that's noticeably lower than the road, and lie down in a ditch and cover your head. The closer you are to the ground or better yet, below ground level, the wind will be weaker, according to experts.
If you can't do that safely, some experts now advise - only as a very last resort - to stay in the car with your seatbelt on. Hunker down, and try to cover yourself up.
"Get below the window level, which is where things are going to come through," said Kramar.
However, since cars can flip over in the wind easily, remember this is a very last resort.
There are instructions online on how to outrun a tornado, but Kramar says that's also a bad idea in our area.
First, he says the hills make it very difficult to tell what direction the storm is going. Second, he says traffic in urban areas makes this a dangerous proposition.
At Home:
We all know to get your family to the basement, but if you don't have a basement, go to your ground floor and pick a space without windows.
Kramar the crawl space on the lowest floor under some stairs as the safest spot in one home.
"You want to put as much as space between you and the outside as possible," said Kramar.
Some experts say put a helmet on to protect your head, but only if you keep one in your shelter spot.
"If you have to run to get this, it's too late," he said.
He also said make sure there's not a refrigerator or something heavy above your shelter spot in case the house collapses.
Also the idea that you should open windows a little to help with air pressure is now considered a myth.
He said it actually delays you getting to shelter and allows air in.
"Once the wind comes into the house, if it has no place to go, it's going to blow the roof off of the house," said Kramar.
Also, keep informed. A TV or radio in your shelter space will prevent you from leaving too soon.
"You might have a ferocious wind outside and you think it's over," said Kramar. "But it's actually just calm, and the tornado then comes in."
In A Mobile Home:
Never stay in a mobile home. Always try to get to a more solid structure.
Even if a mobile home is tied down, wind can flip it over.
Kramar said he thinks it would be better to go outside and get in ditch than stay in a mobile home.
For more information: http://m.fema.gov/during-tornado
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