Tornado season is here

Posted April 22, 2022

Tornados are considered nature’s most violent storms. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with winds that can reach 300 miles per hour.

A tornado’s path of damage can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Drivers who are on the road in an area where a tornado warning is issued should park their vehicles and seek shelter immediately, preferably in a basement or the interior of the lowest floor of a sturdy building or storm shelter.

If outside with no shelter, drivers should lie flat in a near-by ditch or depression and cover their heads with their hands. Drivers should also be aware of the potential for flooding, as heavy rain can cause low spots to quickly flood.

Drivers should watch for flying debris. Most tornado-related deaths and injuries are caused by flying debris.

Drivers should never try to outrun a tornado. They should also not seek shelter under a highway overpass. Winds blow stronger under an overpass due to the wind-tunnel effect.

This article was written by Jen Loomis of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.