Tornadoes and You :)

I have thought about that but sometimes them storms come with a huge amount of water, do you want to be stuck in a pipe with a flood coming at you? I think underpasses might be a better bet..until the bridge falls.

 

Underpasses create a suction tunnel. You’ll be pulled out of it

 

No braving here. You get underground. Or into a FEMA built school shelter if you do not have a underground tornado shelter.

You will understand this when you see the very bark stripped off hardwood trees from the big EF4's that pass through. But being underground at least 6 feet will save your life should you run into one.

Tornados are mortal enemies to life, and we get quite a few of them here in Arkansas. Three of which already have passed through my area already since 1999 and a number more going back to 1940. I once had a tornado chaser on the weather channel over my dish at the house watching a twister, about EF3 stovepipe OZ movie style pass by 3/4 mile to the north.

Another time it passed within 300 yards of the house across one of the access roadways ripping out 15 telephone poles and taking down the local grid including me, while i was wargaming. What with the violence and explosions online in headphones I did not hear the scream of the siren 100 foot from my place. I did notice my water glass viberating on the desk by the keyboard from that. I had the computer on a big enough battery so when the grid went out as it passed through I kept playing.

I wont be doing that again.

Ive run into a couple here and there and it's essentially eff the truck let's find a hole.

I can go on, but I rather not. Just be aware that there is rain season, tornado season, then mud season and finally winter. Back to tornado season and then rain etc.

 

If I am in that situation I immediately go to my storm shelter.

 

I can make one suggestion. If you see one that is threatening you. If you can head to some hills of any type. Tornadoes seem to have trouble sustaining power with hills. Just getting near hills seems to take their wind away.

 

That's one but usually tornadoes take a NE from SW path you just need to make a single right angle turn away from the path and get going.

Also if there is hail where you are with green sky etc stop right there and wait a bit. There may be one not to far away.

If you are in a storm front and everything becomes very quiet quickly, you have a problem. Especially if your ears are popping due to rapid drop in pressure.

 

Not all tornadoes are the same. Smaller, short-lived ones are generally harmless, but the bigger ones, not so much.

 

Yeah, that works. And even if you cant fit, just stick your head in there for protection. Any ditch is better than nothing, but if you can try to find one at least 3ft deep. Also, move away from your truck. You don't want your truck blowing into you when you are sheltered in your hidey pit.

And remember for night driving listen for the freight train sound, sudden drop in pressue, and rain/hail suddenly stopping. If those things happen, the 'nader is near you. I suggest getting out of your truck and running about randomly flailing your arms and screaming that you are going to die. The more dramatic the better.

 

If you're going to ride out a nearby tornado intercept outdoors, at least grab the heaviest outer clothing you have available to wrap your head with during the peak of the flying debris time, and curl up into a fetal position to protect as much of your body as possible. Gravel and other debris traveling @ 150 mph is very unforgiving

 

Hey at least the ones who happen to see that will get a laugh as they are probably doing the same.