By: Benedict Smythe
Submitted: 2008-12-13 06:05:54 | Word Count: 530
Tornadoes are normal occurrences. More than a hundred tornadoes visit the various counties of the United States on a yearly basis. In addition to that, tornadoes often pay a frequent visit to the Great and High Plains regions of the country. As such, if you are planning to have a camping trip out in the mountains in early or late spring, you ought to be prepared to handle tornadoes that might come your way especially because of the fact that almost seventy percent of all the camping sites in the country are quite vulnerable to tornadoes.
a. When you are on the highway and you are just about to head for camp or go home, you can probably drive away from an approaching tornado that’s still miles away from you. However, before you start driving away, make sure that you are well aware of the direction of the tornado’s movement. If the tornado is moving towards the east, you should drive south. If the tornado is moving north, drive towards the east. Bear in mind that you should always drive to the right of its direction as it is most likely to go straight. However, keep in mind that tornadoes change directions frequently and you cannot exactly tell where it is headed so you have to be ready at all times.
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b. Most tornadoes move at more than sixty miles per hour. At this rate, your vehicle can probably outrun it provided that the road that you are on allows you to drive at such speed. If you think that your vehicle is not capable of running at that speed or if there are many roadblocks on your way, you might as well abandon your car and run towards the best shelter that you can see. Never stay inside your vehicle assuming that it can protect you from the approaching tornado. Take note of the fact that aside from the wind that can easily smash your car by picking it up and tumbling it down, your vehicle can be hit by flying debris.
c. Do not try to outrun the tornadoes on foot. This is not possible. Find a safe shelter quickly. Do not go under overpasses. They are not in the list of adequate tornado shelters, the best shelters would be those that can protect you from flying debris and those that are firmly rooted in the ground. Among these shelters are ditches and caves. Most flimsy buildings, cabins, and houses are not capable of protecting you. If you want to protect yourself, you should get low and stay out of the wind.
d. When you are already inside the best shelter that you can find, make sure that you cover your head with something hard in order to protect it from flying debris. If there are no hard objects that you can use, you can use your hands. Also, make it a point to hang onto something that is firmly rooted in the ground. It will be best if you can tie yourself on a firmly rooted object in order to prevent yourself from being airborne. Do not bother to open the windows of your shelter.
