How To Survive An EF5 Tornado
Do you live in a state that is prone to extreme weather and specifically prone to massive tornadoes? While many tornadoes are often only strong enough to slightly damage trees, soil, and houses, EF5 tornadoes are known as absolute monsters of destruction.
They're considered the most powerful tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, with over 200 mph wind speeds. They are the worst kind of tornados we can experience and almost always leave total destruction in their path. These types of tornadoes have the power to rip even the sturdiest houses from their foundations and reduce them to small, unrecognizable debris. They lift asphalt from roads, carry steel beams, twist skyscrapers, and destroy whole towns.
Extreme weather is truly a disaster we all should fear. But this doesn’t mean we can’t do anything to survive an EF5 tornado. We’ve created an easy-to-follow guide to help you and your family remain safe in the face of this adversity.
Easy Ways To Help You Survive An EF5 Tornado
Though they aren’t as common as you might think, it’s essential to know if the area you live in is prone to tornadoes. It’s better to be over-prepared than sorry later. Here are a few easy things you should keep in mind when you’re trying to survive an EF5 tornado.
Remember to Check Weather Watches and Warnings
The best way to survive an EF5 tornado is to know that it’s coming. Whenever a weather watch is issued, you should keep checking the local media or NOAA weather radio for weather updates. You should look for signs that a tornado is approaching. This includes:
- Big pieces of hail and harsh rain or sleet
- Dark-greenish sky
- Low-lying revolving cloud
- Loud roaring sound (wind)
If a tornado warning is issued, you’ll have just a little bit of time to get yourself ready. You have to move fast and know what you need to do in advance.
Though tornados can occur at any time of the day and year, there are peak times. Typically in the southern states, tornadoes occur March through May, while northern states happen a little later in the summer. Remember that tornados can happen at any time, even though they usually peak from 3 pm to 9 pm. Keep your eye on the weather and listen for tornado warnings so that you won’t be blind sighted when extreme weather strikes.
Conduct Tornado Drills
Tornado drills should be the norm in your home, workplace, school, gym, or wherever you are in town. If you live in a place at risk from tornados, you need to have regular drills to make sure everyone knows what to do when a real one strikes.
You should know the location of the local designated shelters. If you’re outside when a tornado is about to come roaring in, wear a helmet as you try to reach a safe place.
Ensure you and your family know the plan and have any essential numbers memorized or in a place they can quickly access. Everyone will feel calmer if they know who to call, where to go, and what to do when severe weather is coming in your area.
Important Tip: Never stay out in the open during a tornado. Find a substantial building or lie in a ditch/low-lying area while covering yourself with your arms.
Keep Supplies
Emergency stores of food, water, medicine, cooking tools, and clothes are absolutely essential if you want to survive an EF5 tornado. Due to the scale of damage after a tornado, rescue can take a few days to reach you. You need to have all the essential supplies to help you survive until then.
We also recommend keeping some comforting and distracting items in your emergency kit. Things like books, puzzles, games, and even just comfort items like blankets and soft toys for your kids can go a long way in easing tension. Having a few distractions will help everyone stay calm and keep their minds off the outside’s potential chaos.
Bottom Line - You Need A Valley Storm Shelter
You can’t get around the storm. If you want to give your family the best chance to survive an EF5 tornado, you need the safety of the most robust storm shelters.
Whether it's aboveground safe rooms, panic rooms, or underground shelters, Valley Storm Shelters are known for providing the safest storm shelters.
Not even winds of over 200 mph could shake our CORELOCK™ Anchoring System or break-down our 310-pound vault-like doors. And that’s not it. We’ve used our years of experience in providing storm safety to create optimal shelters and solutions with top-of-the-line technology.
Want to survive an EF5 tornado? Get in touch with us today by filling this short form or calling us at +1 256-890-4265. We would love to answer your questions and help you feel a little safer.