As if the hurricane itself isn't bad enough, these storms have the nasty
tendency to spawn tornadoes in their wake. Tornadoes are by nature more
localized than hurricanes, but they're much, much more destructive.
Watch and Listen for Tornadoes
The TV and Radio are your best early warning systems for tornadoes. If
the hurricane is spawning tornadoes, you'll hear about it from your TV
and radio weatherpeople. They'll let you know if a certain section of
the hurricane has spawned tornadoes, and where that part of the storm is
moving. You can then plan what you do from there. Of course, the fact
that there have been no reports of tornadoes related to the hurricane
doesn't mean that you're out of danger. Your neighborhood could always
be the first one that hits the area. Even if the hurricane hits your
area during the daytime, the clouds and rain will make it dark outside,
possibly too dark to see a tornado as it's traveling towards you. That
means the best way you can tell when a tornado is coming is to listen.
Tornadoes make a very distinct sound when approaching, that of a roaring
freight train. You won't have much time to react if you hear that
sound, so it's important to be aware of tornadoes and be ready to do
what you can if one strikes your home.
When a Tornado Strikes...
If a tornado comes skipping through your neighborhood, your first
thought is to get to the center of the house. Stay away from all
windows, doors, and outside walls. If a tornado strikes your home, it's
may well blow the roof off the house and knock down the outside walls.
Inside walls, such as those around a bathroom have the best chance of
staying up. A basement or storm shelter would be the safest place you
could go, but most houses in New Orleans don't have either of these.
Head for a bathroom, closet, or an interior bedroom, and try to get
under something sturdy, like a table or other strong piece of furniture.
Moving to the interior of the house protects you from the exterior
walls, windows and doors collapsing, and getting under something sturdy
protects you from falling debris if the roof blows off.
If you're in a trailer, mobile home, or in a vehicle on the road, get
out and head for the lowest ground you can find. Try to find a ditch or
other depression in the ground, lay flat and cover your head with your
arms. You shouldn't be riding a hurricane out in a mobile home in the
first place, much less stay in one if a tornado threatens. Tornadoes
have picked up mobile homes and thrown them down the street, shattering
them into splinters. Automobiles and other vehicles also offer little
to no protection. Get out, get on the ground, and hope the thing skips
over you.
This World Wide Web document is provided as a public service by Yatcom Communications, Inc. Yatcom
Communications is a consulting/public relations company dedicated to using computer technology to
promote the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
All About Hurricanes
