Tornado Preparation

Just a short time ago, a tornado ravaged Myanmar. There are frequent tornadoes spotted throughout the Midwest. Though the company that you drive for probably has regulations about what to do in a tornado or high wind storm, as the weather changes from spring to summer to fall, being prepared to encounter severe weather, like a tornado, on the road is necessary for your safety. Fortunately, in the wake of the recent tornados, the media has made it an objective to educate the public, especially those on the road, about what to do in the event of weather related emergencies.

Although tornados can spring up at any time of day or night with little warning, tornado preparation while on your route is possible. One of the best ways to be prepared is to keep your weather radio on with charged or fresh batteries. In weather lingo, a tornado warning means a storm is expected to arise and a tornado warning means a storm has been spotted. If a tornado warning is announced, meteorologists will generally give the expected locations of the tornado and speed, so you can be best prepared. Speaking with truckers on your CB radio as they head the other direction is also a good way to gauge the weather you’re heading into, although weather is subject to fast and unpredictable change.

Though storm chasing shows can be interesting and fun to watch, the Federal Emergency Management Agency advises anyone driving during a tornado to get out of the vehicle as soon as possible, whether that means relocating to a safer outdoor area or pulling over at a truck stop, gas station, or other place of business. Though staying in your truck might seem safer than being outside, even large semi-trucks can be easily lifted by tornados. Also, because the storm can change direction very quickly, trying to out-drive a tornado is never a good policy, even if it seems possible.

If you are in an area where you can get indoors, head to basement, or if not possible, the lowest floor, or an interior hallway with no windows. In a truck stop, the showers are probably the safest places to seek shelter during a tornado.

If you are driving along a rural highway when a tornado strikes, and cannot find indoor shelter, authorities advise seeking low lying ground, like a ditch, and using your hands to protect your head and neck. Because flooding can occur with severe wind storms and tornados, being aware of your surroundings, whether inside or outside, is key.

With an average of 1,000 tornados per year, the United States has more tornados than any other country in the world, according to USA Today. Tornados have hit every state, though they are most frequent in Tornado Alley, the Western area of Kansas, Oklahoma, part of Texas, etc. Regardless of where you are driving, however, you should be aware that a tornado can strike at any time. Armed with a weather radio and these guidelines, you’ll be sure to keep a cool head and know what to do should disaster strike.