It's almost spring here in the states which means 1 thing above most other things for a lot of people who live here. Tornadic events are on their minds whether they are actively thinking about it or if its lodged temporarily in their subconscious, It's always there. So in the spirit of brotherly love I thought I'd share some facts about surviving Tornadic events that most people should know but have a high probability of NOT knowing. 1: DON'T wait for warnings. They only issue warnings when a tornadic event has been spotted. Which basically means if you're waiting for a warning before you go into your basement or wherever you plan to go, you're essentially playing Tornadic roulette. Why? Because as mentioned before they only issue warning when a tornado has started. So, what if the tornado started right next to your house, and you're waiting for the warning? Let's just say that You're not going to hear the warning. Moving on.... 2: NOAA Alert radios are faster and more reliable than sirens. I used to live in a mobile home (manufactured home/trailer) and there was one evening when we were watching TV (i think it was a game show, something feel good-ish) and the 90-decibel radio alert went off. My parents are telling me to turn that thing off because they think I take everything too seriously (Autism). But it was a tornado warning!! (They didn't even issue a watch first, which is scary to think about) Guess what? The radio went off 45 seconds before we heard the sirens. Think about that.... 3: Bullet-proof vests and similar things don't stop debris. bullet proof vests stop bullets that weigh a few ounces, NOT 30-pound microwaves flying at 120+ MPH while it's not a bad idea to have one, you're better off just wearing a good helmet. A reflective vest wouldn't hurt either, in case you need to be rescued. Also carry some water to help calm your nerves (it's hard to be calm if you can't feel your tongue) Also a whistle. And last but not least a trick that they use in the military... DETACH. Think in terms of "My fate is of my own creation, this tornado may test me, but I know all the answers!" You don't have to actually know the answers but if you can trick your brain into being calm, it will double your chances of survival. I hope yawl can glean something helpful/useful from this thoroughly researched post. I'm fascinated with first aid/ disaster survival/ self-defense/ and learning in general. If you find evidence to support that something I said isn't true or is even slightly incorrect or even incomplete, please let me know. After all, IT TAKES A VILLAGE!
