What do you do when your in the middle of nowhere and there is a tornado ahead?

Question

I didn't know what to do then before, but now, I looked on the weather and I know... :)

Answer 1

First and fore most DO NOT PANIC!

Second remember the car and the THINGS in it are expendable, you and your passengers are not.

Third, if you hear of tornado warnings on the radio or tv avoid the area.

Fourth if you actually see the tornado coming at you, look for the nearest solid shelter you can find, underpasses are a very good emergency choice if there is time to find one. Get out of the car and climb to the top of the narrow area in the underpass (most usually have “pockets” in them at the top where one can hide) and hang on to anything solid you can find.

If there is not time to find any cover, get out of the car and lay down in a ditch or the lowest point you can find (try your best to keep out of the wind and debris) At this point we are assuming the twister is on top of you and there is no other option available.

Staying in the car when in the path of a tornado is the worst thing you can do. If it hits the car and while you are in it there is almost 0 chance that you will survive. As the car can easily be thrown like a child throwing a toy. While you might survive being picked up by the tornado, getting tossed around inside the car and the landing, when it finally does let go of the car, is not going to be fun.

Also Never try to out run a tornado, while a car might be able to move faster, the tornado does not follow roads and can still catch you. Not to mention the wind and junk it is carrying move a lot faster than you can.

Of course a lot of the run or don't run option depends on how close to you the tornado is when it drops down to the ground.

Of course, regardless of if one believes or not, though all of that a good prayer or two never hurts.

Answer 2

If lucky enough, you find a ditch to hide in or any gully type thing.

Answer 3

Try to find shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head and neck with your arms and hands. Stay away from trees, power lines, and other large objects that could become debris and dangerous.

Answer 4

If you're in the middle of nowhere, try to find shelter in a nearby sturdy structure. If none is available, lie in the nearest low lying spot with your hands over your head.

Answer 5

find an underpass or a ditch and hide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

I just want to tell you WR is right DO NOT seek shelter under an overpass, some people were literally picked up slammed to the pavement in the OKC tornado of '99. A tornado that directly hits an overpass may actually destroy it if it has enough debris being hurled. Imagine having an overpass collapsing on you.

Answer 7

First off to the others above me you are completely wrong about going under an overpass. DO NOT seek shelter under an over pass doing so endangers yourself and others.  The wind speeds can increase under an overpass and debris can be flown and can act as a wind tunnel effect.  On May 3,1999 in the Moore,OK  F-5 tornado several people were several injured and a couple were killed while taking shelter in an overpass.  I have read many accounts from damage reports and many have included large debris impaled into the concrete.   Take shelter in a ditch or low lying area to protect your self from debris.

Answer 8

If you are in the middle of nowhere and see a tornado coming, you should have enough time to get out of its path.  Watch it for a second and see what direction it's going.  They say that tornadoes typically move to the northeast, but CAN go any direction.  So just stop and take a look.  If it's headed to the right, you're pretty safe going left.  If it's going left, you go right.  You should catch my drift.....If the tornado seems to be staying still and getting larger, get the h**l out of dodge!  It's coming right at you!