what is the safest course of action when your driving in a tornado

by Mr. Grayson Kozey III 7 min read

According to the National Weather Service, if a tornado develops while you’re driving:

  • The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. ...
  • DO NOT seek safety under a highway overpass. Winds blow stronger under the overpass due to the wind-tunnel effect. ...
  • Remember – the tornado can occur before there is a visible funnel cloud. ...

In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

Full Answer

Is it safe to drive during a tornado?

 · If you can see the tornado in the distance, NOAA recommends changing course and driving toward a sturdy shelter as soon as you are able. They recommend truck stops, convenience stores, restaurants,...

What should you do when a tornado hits?

The best course of action is to try and quickly pull over into an area that is lower than the road if possible. Next, make sure your seatbelt is tightly fastened, and then huddle down so your head is below the car windows. Cover yourself with a blanket from your emergency kit or anything that can provide extra protection to your head.

Where is the safest place to be in a tornado?

 · Your best course of action is to drive to the nearest tornado shelter. If you can’t get to a shelter in time, here are some other less dangerous actions you can take: If the tornado is far away, you can try moving by driving at right angles to the tornado if traffic is light. If the tornado is close (or you are caught in extreme winds or flying debris), immediately and safely …

Are highway overpasses safe from tornadoes?

The best driving decision you can make is to stay off the road until the weather clears, Chris Hayes, second vice president of transportation risk control for Travelers, said. "Stay low. Stay in ...

How do you survive a tornado if you are in a car?

Stay in your car, secured into your seat belt, and put your head down below the window–covering it with your hands or a blanket if you have one. Or, if you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

What is the safest thing to do in a tornado?

Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). If possible, avoid sheltering in any room with windows. For added protection get under something sturdy (a heavy table or workbench). Cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress.

Should you get out of your car in a tornado?

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 other 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.

Where is the safest place to be during a tornado?

Being in a reinforced safe room (or above-ground tornado shelter) is as good as an underground shelter in most situations and is usually the best place to be during a tornado. The National Weather Service says safe rooms are specially-designed reinforced tornado shelters built into homes, schools and other buildings.

What to do if a tornado picks you up?

Try to position yourself in the center of a room. Avoid standing near walls or corners because the corners tend to collect dust and other debris during a tornado. Always stay away from windows. As a tornado approaches your neighborhood, go to an interior room of your house on the lowest floor.

Can you survive being in a tornado?

Unlike most natural disasters, being caught in the middle of a tornado is actually survivable. There have been multiple reports from people who were caught inside the eye of a tornado and have walked away without any injuries.

Should you try to outrun a tornado in a car or truck?

You should not try to outrun a tornado in your car. An EF-1 tornado can push a moving car off the road and an EF-2 tornado can pick a car off the ground. Do not hide under an overpass. Many people believe this to be a safe place, but winds can actually be worse under the overpass.

Should you get under an overpass during a tornado?

Many people mistakenly think that a highway overpass provides a safe haven from a tornado. The reality is that an overpass may be one of the worst places to seek shelter from a tornado. Using an overpass for your shelter can put you at a much greater risk of being killed or seriously injured by a tornado.

What causes the most deaths during a tornado?

Many serious injuries (25%) and almost all (83%) deaths were the result of becoming airborne, while most minor injuries (94%) were due to being struck by objects. Head injury was the most common injury type.

Can you get sucked into a tornado?

Damage, the SPC said, no matter how "incredible" or how strong the wind, maxes out at EF-5. No. 8: To keep from being sucked into the tornado, tie yourself to a well pipe, just like they did in the movie "Twister." Myth.

Are brick houses safer in a tornado?

For centuries, buildings constructed of brick have withstood the ravages of hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, hail and punishing rain.

Can you survive an F5 tornado in a basement?

“With an F5 tornado you get the 'house swept away – only foundation is left' situation – and the only *safe* place from an F5 is underground or out of it's path. These tornadoes are the ones that literally have pealed up the road where it passed.”

If The Tornado Is Far Enough Away

However, they warn you not to take shelter in a high-risk structure like a mobile home. Your car is safer than a mobile home, the Red Cross states...

If The Tornado Threat Is Immediate

If you're stuck in heavy traffic and there's nowhere for you to to go, it's time to duck and cover in a ditch or low spot. In that case, NOAA recom...

Why You Should Never Take Shelter Under An Overpass

It's understandable that motorists would feel safest under a sturdy structure like an overpass, but winds are actually higher in these openings, an...

What to do when you see a tornado?

What to do. If a tornado is within your range of vision while driving, the best thing to do is immediately change course and head toward a sturdy shelter. If you’re far from home or a friend’s house, look for a restaurant, truck stop or convenience store nearby.

What is news wheel?

The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.

Where is the safest place to be in a tornado?

It’s a common assumption that the safest place to be in a Tornado is either under a highway overpass — or to get out of your vehicle and lower yourself into the nearest ditch or depression in the ground. However, you should avoid doing both of these, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirms.

What is the best way to drive a tornado?

An additional strategy is to drive at a right angle to the tornado’s travel path. For example, if it’s heading west, drive north.

Can you lay in a ditch for tornado shelter?

Overpasses won’t provide the same level of protection as an actual tornado shelter. In fact, the wind will be stronger in these openings, which in turn, increases the risk of flying debris. And lying in a ditch will expose you to the elements, as well as to flying debris. Though, the NOAA did claim that lying down in a ditch could be used as a last resort, if necessary.

How long does it take for a tornado to touch down?

Once a tornado starts to form, it can touch down in seconds. If you're driving and you see a tornado, here's what you should and shouldn't do. Seeking shelter from a tornado under an overpass might sound like a good idea and it's an idea often captured in films, but meteorologists say that is one of the worst things you could do.

What is the greatest risk when a tornado hits?

Flying debris is one of the greatest risks when a tornado hits.

How far can a tornado blow?

Tornado winds can blow large objects, including cars, hundreds of feet away. Tornadoes travel swiftly, are able to change direction quickly and can lift a car or truck into the air.

How to protect yourself from a car crash?

Stay in your car, secured into your seat belt, and put your head down below the window, covering it with your hands or a blanket if you have one. Or, if you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, using a protective covering like a blanket or tarp if you have one with you," Hayes said.

Where is the KTA in Kansas City?

The KTA is the stretch of I-35 from Kansas City through the Oklahoma border, " Clark said. Clark said it would be helpful if the storm shelters were every several miles, but he doesn't think it is realistic to drive 50 miles to the closest shelter when in imminent danger.

When is the next tornado in Texas?

A tornado-producing thunderstorm with an ominous and rapidly rotating wall cloud threatens Cactus, Texas, on March 22, 2019. Tornado sirens blare as cars drive past. (AccuWeather/Reed Timmer) The best driving decision you can make is to stay off the road until the weather clears, Chris Hayes, second vice president of transportation risk control ...

Is the tornado shelter open in Kansas?

Officials stress not to leave your home and drive to a storm shelter in the event of severe weather. "The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) has a tornado shelter at every toll booth for the toll workers, but they are also open to the public in the event of a tornado.

What to keep in car during tornadoes?

Glisan recommends keeping a few key items in your car at all times: blankets, a small medical kit, and a portable weather radio that can help you get through a scary situation. First aid kits can range in expense, but even the cheapest model will have the essentials for treating minor cuts, burns, and scrapes (try this All-Purpose First-Aid Kid, $14.17, Amazon). This Emergency Weather Radio ($29.97, Amazon)is certified by NOAA, which means it’ll pick up the important radio stations with weather information. Plus, it takes AA batteries, which you can just toss in the car so you don’t have to worry about charging it up.

What should you do if you can't get away from a tornado?

What should you do if you can’t get away from the tornado or find suitable shelter? Your two safest options are to stay in your vehicle or lay in a ditch (and before you take cover, remember to park your car offof the road; you want to leave it clear for first responders).

How does clean up of abandoned mines help?

Cleanup of abandoned mines could get boost, relieving rivers

Can you drive away from a tornado?

First of all, don’t try to outrun a tornado; tornadoes move at a rapid and unpredictable pace. If there is minimal traffic, drive away from its path, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA, for short). Glisan agrees. “If you see a tornado in the far distance and traffic is light, you may have time to drive away,” says Glisan. “If driving is an acceptable option, you should take right angle routes away from the storm.”

Can tornadoes cause flooding?

One caveat: Tornadoes are often accompanied by a lot of rainfall—and extra rain can lead to floodingor unwanted guests (rodents or snakes, for example) taking up residence in the ditch. If that's the case, you may be safer taking shelter in your vehicle.

Is it safe to park under an overpass?

Parking under an overpass may seem like a logical and safe place to seek shelter from a tornado when you're on the road, but it's actually quite dangerous. Wind bottlenecks as it whips through enclosed spaces like those under an overpass, meaning that the wind speeds are actually much higher there than out in the storm. “You never want to park your car in the exposed levels of a parking garage or under a bridge or overpass,” he says.

Is Microsoft compensated for links?

Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

What is the weight of a 3 axle vehicle?

a. A 3-axle vehicle if the Gross Vehicle Weight is less than 6,000 pound.

How many cars can you have behind a truck?

a. No more than one car length behind the truck so the driver can see you.

How many car lengths can a driver see?

a. No more than one car length so the driver can see you..

What does "yield" mean in a car?

a. Yield to any vehicle, bike, or pedestrian in the intersection.

Has Stella been cited for a driving violation?

Stella has never been cited for a driving violation or gotten into a crash. What kind of insurance discount might she be eligable for?

Can a T/F tow a car?

T/F People with any kind of drivers license can tow.

Can you get a ticket for tailgating?

T/F: you can get a ticket for tailgating.

What is front tire traction loss?

Front tire traction loss occurs when you oversteer on a slick surface around a turn or curve.

How to avoid single vehicle collisions?

All choices are correct (Avoid head-on collisions, hit something soft instead of hard, or something still instead of moving to minimize an impending crash.) To avoid single vehicle crashes, use your brake systems and steering. True: Using your brake systems and steering can help you avoid single vehicle crashes.

Which type of collision is the most damaging?

Sideswipe collisions are the most damaging type of collision.

What happens if you overinflated a tire?

Over-inflated tires are more likely to have a blowout, and under-inflat ed tires wear the sides of the tire.

Is head on collision deadly?

Head-on collisions are deadly at high speeds.

Should a woman brake before approaching?

She should brake before approaching and take her foot off the brake while on the curve.

Should you get all weather tires?

All choices are correct ( If living in an area with frequent winter storms, you should obtain all-weather tires, snow tires , or chains.)