Severe weather safety: Split-second life-saving decisions

Severe weather season is upon us and millions are impacted by tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rain each spring. Safety is key and remembering a few simple items can help you and your family this season.

Recently, families in Iowa were faced with a serious decision to make – should I stay, or should I go? A tornado came barreling down the fields and aimed for a few farms in Mediapolis, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 17, 2024.

More than 18 tornado reports were sent to the National Weather Service (NWS) across the central Plains and Midwest, and the Mediapolis, Iowa, one brought down large tree limbs, tore a shed to pieces, and damaged homes.

Most of the time, residents under a tornado warning need to seek shelter, whether that is in a basement, the most inner room of the lowest level of the house, or even a deep ditch. But if there is no access to any of these, sometimes getting out of the way of the tornado completely is the best way to keep your family safe, like the Wallman family in Mediopolis.

The NWS recommends the following when a tornado or a severe storm threatens your area.

Hail can be anything from pebble size to grapefruit size, or even larger. The bigger the hailstone, the more dangerous. When in a house or any other building, make sure to stay away from windows and skylights. In a vehicle, the stones can shatter windshields easily. The NWS says to get out of the vehicle and seek sturdy shelter immediately.

Severe winds often accompany severe thunderstorms, sometimes becoming stronger than tornado-strength winds, especially if they are straight-line. Stay indoors, away from doors and windows. If driving, seek sturdy shelter as winds can tip vehicles, especially high-profile ones.

Avoid water-covered roadways and paths during heavy rainfall events, which commonly occur during severe weather. It only takes 6 inches of water to sweep a person off their feet and 12 inches of moving water to carry a vehicle off. Remember, turn around, don’t drown.

Have at least three ways to receive a weather warning and have your Weather & Radar app alerts switched on, especially during the severe weather season.