Tips for handling severe weather

There was tragic loss of life on 1st March 2007 in Alabama, USA

A tornado which was travelling at speeds greater than 50mph took the residents in the town of Enterprise by surprise. The tornado strike occured at the time of day when it was 'going home' time at the local high school, which took a direct hit from the tornado

The roof and walls of the building collapsed onto the people sheltering inside the building. When there is a risk of a tornado strike, it isn't enough to simply stand inside a building and hope the tornado does not make a direct hit on you

Your safest bet is to head down to the basement (if the building has one)

If there are baths in the building, you head into them, and find something protective to put over you.

You head into the central room of the building, you get down as low to the ground as you can, and try to find something sturdy to shelter under. You are trying to minimise the damage you are likely to sustain from flying debris and collapsing walls / ceilings

I realise with a very fast moving storm system, there is very little time to react. In the BBC report that i listened to, the tornado warning sirens did sound. People have to be very sharp, vigilant, keep watching the skies, and be prepared to move FAST when those sirens sound

You are much better off seeking shelter inside a sturdy building.. compared with be caught outside in the open when the tornado hits

Steve