Tornado Safety Tips

While hurricanes may pack a more destructive punch overall, few natural phenomena are more frightening than the tornado.

Funnel clouds pop up quickly, and seemingly out of nowhere, giving people in their path little time to react. Wind speed can top 300 miles per hour, turning uprooted trees and objects into murderous missiles. An estimated 60 people are killed by tornadoes each year in the United States alone in addition to the millions of dollars in damage.

What can you do to protect yourself? Here’s one list, courtesy of “How Stuff Works.”

1. Determine the best locations for shelter at home and work.

2. Conduct tornado safety drills with your family.

3. Prepare an emergency supply kit.

4. Make an inventory of your possessions.

5. Know how your community sends its warnings.

6. Know the difference between a “watch” and a “warning.”

7. Stay away from windows.

8. Don’t bother opening windows.

9. Get in position.

10. Mobile home residents need to take extra precautions.

To read more about these safety tips and others, visit howstuffworks.com.