How to Self-Rescue During a Tornado
A tornado is a type of intense, small-scale air vortex.
It is formed under strongly unstable weather conditions.
It is generated by strong convective movements of air.
Usually, it is an intense whirlwind produced by a funnel-shaped cloud extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
The air pressure at the center of a tornado is very low.
The central wind speed can reach 100-200 meters per second or more.
It has immense destructive power.
- When encountering a tornado outdoors, the prevention method is to anticipate its movement. Stay away from the tornado's path, moving away from it from the side or back. If you feel that the tornado is nearby, you can hide in a sturdy shelter. Most steel-reinforced concrete structures are strong enough; just stay away from windows, move close to wall corners, and cover yourself with thick clothing to prevent injuries from flying debris.
When encountering a tornado in the wild, you should escape perpendicular to the tornado's direction of movement. If there is no time, quickly find a low-lying area to lie down in, but stay away from large trees, utility poles, billboards, walls, and other objects to avoid being crushed, trapped, or electrocuted.
- When encountering a tornado while driving, do not attempt to continue driving to avoid it, as the tornado can not only suck in and "engulf" vehicles and pedestrians along its path but can also cause explosions due to the large pressure difference inside and outside the car. You should try to park the car in a safe area such as a culvert or tunnel and immediately get out of the car to escape. When encountering crosswinds, hold the steering wheel with both hands and apply appropriate force in the direction of the wind to keep the vehicle on the correct path.
Be careful not to adjust too forcefully to prevent losing control of the vehicle.If the wind is too strong, do not jerk the steering wheel or slam on the brakes. When the car's center of gravity is already unstable due to strong winds, braking can likely have a negative impact.
- When encountering a tornado at home, leave dangerous houses or other simple temporary shelters and go to nearby sturdier buildings to take refuge. Avoid windows, doors, and exterior walls of the house. Immediately go to a small room opposite the direction of the tornado, crouch down, and cover your head.
If your home has a basement, immediately take shelter there. Concrete building basements or semi-basements are safer.
