Where to hide for tornado?

Question

In my condo building, I live on 2nd floor, the only place on ground floor is a closet under the stairs with no windows. Is under the stairs a good place?

Answer 1

Yes, that's a good place!  You might want to keep a "storm" bag handy with some storm essentials in it.  Just in case you might need them.  If worst comes to worst and you don't have time to get there, pull a mattress off a bed and head for the bathroom and get in the bathtub!  Or a closet!  Heavy blankets or rugs will work to cover up with also.  What you're trying to do here is provide protection from flying debris.  

I used to keep an extra diaper bag packed with some clothes, wipes, diapers, blankets and always had formula in the fridge ready to grab and toss in the bag.  If you don't have a bag big enough, get a small 6 pack cooler and keep some ice packs handy in the freezer to keep the bottles cool.

Answer 2

Here are Safety Links that are excelent resources for Tornado Safety.

TORNADO SAFETY

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/preparedness...

http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/torn...

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/wcm/safety_r...

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/tor...

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/elp/swww/v5n1/to...

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safe...

http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/0075...

http://www.tornadoproject.com/safety/saf...

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/faq/faq_tor.php

WHY OVERPASSES ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR SHELTERS

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/papers/overp...

Answer 3

I've heard that sitting in your tub with a mattress over you isn't so bad either. And definitely stock up on bottled water, canned food, flashlights/batteries, etc.

Answer 4

yeah and if something falls or whatever, the stairs can protect you, just kneel against the wall, and cover your child and your head incase something falls or whatever.

Answer 5

i don't think so. stairs don't have much support under them so they could collapse on u. a bathroom on the first floor would be a better place to hide. preferably without windows. when the pressure drops and the winds pick up they can shatter. also the bath tub with something over it would be a good place as well.

have a key coppied and ask your tennants if u can stay in the basement.

Answer 6

Bathrooms and closets are safest according wiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_myt...

Answer 7

yes cause its low but no cause it has no windows

Answer 8

yes, it is a good place to hide since there is no windows and it  is near the basement. but if the buiding that u r living in has a basement it is safer to be down there. U know y?

because my friend amy had a tornado near her building and she went down to the basement and she never got injured. :)

Answer 9

Yep, you want a small, stable, windowless room, so that pretty much fits what you want in a tornado safe place.