Where is the safest place in a school during a tornado?

Where is the safest place in a school during a tornado?

The safest place to survive violent, killer tornadoes is in an approved underground storm shelter or in an approved above ground storm shelter. The next safest place is on the lowest floor of your home, school or business in an interior room like a closet, hallway, or bathroom.

Are school hallways safe during tornadoes?

Each school should be inspected and tornado shelter areas designated. Basements offer the best protection. Schools without basements should use interior rooms and hallways on the lowest floor and stay away from windows and doors.

What do you do in a tornado during school?

WHEN THE TORNADO THREATENS OR A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED… Lead all students to the designated safe places in a calm, orderly and firm manner. Everyone should then crouch low, head down, protecting the back of the head with the arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

Where do you hide in school during a tornado?

Go to interior rooms and halls on the lowest floor, but avoid halls that open to the outside in any direction. If there are no interior hallways, avoid those that open to the southwest, south, or west, since that is the usually the direction the tornado will come. Locker rooms near the gym are often a safe place.

Should classroom doors be closed during a tornado?

In the section of your building that’s hit by the maximum winds of a tornado, it won’t make any difference if the windows are open or closed. Interior doors between classrooms and corridors should be secured open if other pressure releasing ventilation (transoms, vents, etc.) are not available.

Where can you hide during a tornado?

basement
Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). If possible, avoid sheltering in a room with windows. For added protection get under something sturdy (a heavy table or workbench).

What do you do when there is a tornado for kids?

DURING A TORNADO:

1. Go to a basement.
2. If you do not have a basement, go to an interior room without windows on the lowest floor such as a bathroom or closet.
3. If you can, get under a sturdy piece of furniture, like a table.
4. If you live in a mobile home get out.
5. Get out of automobiles.

What is a tornado drill at school?

A tornado drill is something people do to practice what they would do if there were a tornado. It is usually done in a building such as a school or office. This is usually a room deep inside the building (probably near the middle), or a hallway with no windows. They then get into a safe position.

Can I hide under my bed during tornado?

Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them.

Are stairwells safe in a tornado?

A stairwell is also a structurally safe place to be during a tornado, according to Mitchell. The first thing you’ll want to do if you find yourself in your car during a tornado is to seek shelter inside a building.

Is it safe to open windows before a tornado?

Myth: Windows should be opened before a tornado to equalize pressure and minimize damage. Fact: Opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the structure. Leave the windows alone. It is now believed that a solid structure (no windows or doors open) has a better chance of escaping major damage.

What should a school do in case of a tornado?

Portable classrooms are most often constructed like mobile homes; and they are just as dangerous. Any sound tornado safety plan must include getting students out of portable classrooms and into a safe area in the main building, as quickly as possible, to minimize the time spend outside and exposed to the elements.

What kind of tornado hit Childress High School?

The next photo shows the inside of the Childress (TX) High School gym after a May 2006 tornado. The tornado was rated F1 (weak, on the original F-scale) at the school, although it did do F2 damage elsewhere. This further illustrates the hazard of indoor areas with large roof spans, even in “weak” tornadoes.

When to take shelter during a tornado warning?

A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter if you see signs of a tornado. Sometimes tornadoes strike quickly, without time for a tornado warning. Signs that a tornado may be approaching include