Stay safe from a tornado without a shelter or basement

From living in a mobile home to being in your car during a tornado, there are situations where you might not have a basement or shelter. So, what should you do? SERVPRO® is Here to Help® with best practices and safety tips.

With the United States averaging over 1,200 tornadoes every year, these natural disasters are more common in America than any other country in the world. If a tornado has been spotted or indicated by weather officials, but you do not have immediate access to a tornado shelter or basement, it is important to prioritize your safety and know where to go. The key to reducing the risk of injury and surviving a tornado lies in planning, preparing, and practicing what to do when a tornado strikes. Although there is no fail-safe shelter to protect you from a tornado, many locations are safer than others.

Ultimately, being prepared with a tornado safety plan can significantly reduce the risk of injury, and can keep you and those around you safe. After seeking shelter from a tornado or storm, you may be left with significant cleanup and repairs. No matter the size of the storm damage, SERVPRO^®is available 24 hours a day and is dedicated to helping make it “Like it never even happened.”

How to Prepare for a Tornado

To best prepare for a tornado, it is important to have a tornado emergency plan in place and know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds. The following are a few helpful tips on how to prepare for a tornado without a shelter or basement immediately available to you:

Gather essentials for a storm survival kit. Items may include a first aid kit, water, hygienic items, flashlights (with extra batteries), important documents, sleeping bags, and non-perishable food items.
Locate the area in your community where you can take shelter. For example, if a friend has a shelter or basement, make arrangements ahead of time to stay with them during the storm, and plan to bring your storm survival kit. Also, include a list of community storm shelters nearby in your tornado emergency plan. It is important to know the quickest route(s) to each one in case of emergency. This includes public buildings like churches, libraries, malls, and government buildings. Many have storm shelters built in, but it is important to prepare and map out a plan. If you do not have enough warning to evacuate to a shelter in time, it is important to scout out your home’s safest place when you do not have a shelter or basement. Continue reading to learn where the safest place to seek shelter in your home is located.
Inspect your home for possible hazards. Arrange furniture away from windows, mirrors, and picture frames. Secure heavy appliances with cables or metal strapping, and install latches or bolts on cabinet doors.
If a tornado warning is issued, shut off the water, electricity, and gas, if possible. Also, disconnect appliances to prevent electrical shock.

Where to Seek Shelter from a Tornado in a Home with No Basement

It is important to keep the following guidelines in mind and find a location that is:

Away from windows. An exploding window can injure or kill. It is pivotal to choose a room that does not have any windows, if possible.
Located on the ground floor. Weather professionals state that wind and debris damage of a tornado tends to increase with the height of the storm.
An interior room. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. It is important to be as far inside the building as possible. Taking shelter in an interior room puts walls between you and the exterior of your home.

For added protection, once you have secured the safest room to shelter in, find a sturdy piece of furniture to hide under. A heavy table or workbench can protect you from falling objects. You can also utilize a blanket, mattress, or sleeping bag to protect your head during the storm. Do not take shelter under an area in your home that has heavy objects, such as refrigerators or pianos. These could potentially fall through the flooring of the room above.

Where to Seek Shelter from a Tornado in a Mobile Home

The National Weather Service highlights the dangers of taking shelter from a tornado in a mobile home by stating, “72% of all tornado fatalities occur in homes (permanent, mobile, manufactured, etc.). 54% of the housing fatalities occur in mobile/manufactured homes, even though ‘mobile homes’ only make up 6% of the US housing stock.” The following are helpful tornado shelter safety tips for mobile homeowners:

Many mobile home communities have an interior “safe room” or shelter. It is crucial to know where the shelter is located ahead of time and have route(s) for evacuating your mobile home in the event of severe weather. If there is no shelter available, take cover in the basement of site-built homes, schools, or office buildings nearby.
Mobile homes manufactured before 1976 are especially vulnerable to high winds, and it is recommended to evacuate to a nearby building immediately. If there is no shelter available, lie in the closest ditch or ravine and shield your head with your hands.
Even if your mobile home is tied down and secured to the ground, weather professionals emphasize the importance of evacuating to a shelter as soon as possible. If there is no time to reach a safe shelter, the next best option is to lie flat in a ditch outside. Never take cover under a mobile home, because it can be swept up by a tornado, and this can put you in severe danger.

Where to Seek Shelter from a Tornado if Driving in a Motor Vehicle

Weather.gov emphasizes, “The least desirable place to be during a tornado is a motor vehicle.” Because cars, buses, and trucks are easily swept up by the harsh winds of a tornado, weather officials caution to never outrun a tornado in your car. There is no guaranteed safe option when caught in a tornado in your vehicle, but there are slightly less dangerous ones. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides the following tornado vehicle safety tips:

The best course of action if you see a tornado while in your vehicle is to pull over and immediately seek shelter.

If there is no shelter available, it is important to find the lowest point on the ground, such as a ditch, and lie flat while covering your head with your hands.
As a last resort, if there is no ditch or shelter, park the car away from traffic and trees as soon as possible, and remain in your vehicle while covering your head with your seatbelt on.
Avoid taking cover under highway overpasses and bridges.

SERVPRO is Here to Support Your Storm Damage Needs

If you are faced with minor or major tornado or storm damage, you are not alone, because SERVPRO is Here to Help^®. SERVPRO professionals are local and available when you need storm damage assistance, repair, or restoration. From tornado preparation like roof tarp and board-up services to restoring damaged belongings after a severe storm, SERVPRO’s advanced equipment and professional technicians will help restore peace of mind to your property and belongings. When needed, the SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team^® is called into action to respond to commercial large loss restoration needs. No matter the size of the damage, SERVPRO is prepared to tackle any storm restoration or cleanup needs.

SERVPRO is Faster to Any Size Disaster™

When you are faced with the aftermath of a tornado, or require cleanup assistance after a storm, call SERVPRO. A tornado or storm can strike any time of the day or night, so each of our 2260 locations in the United States and Canada offer everyone 24-hour emergency services. Established in 1967, SERVPRO has become the #1 choice in fire and water cleanup and restoration*. With decades of experience, you can trust that SERVPRO professionals are well-equipped to handle it all. Contact your local SERVPRO today for elite storm cleanup, restoration, and construction services.

SERVPRO offers a variety of resources about the cleanup and restoration industry. To learn more, please visit our FAQ and glossary.