Tornado Safety on the Highway
Tornado safety on the highway: what to do when a tornado threatens while driving, when to shelter, when to keep moving.
First Rule: Take Warning Seriously
Immediate action required
Time is critical
Don't wait for confirmation
Assume tornado is real
Every second matters
If Tornado Is Not Yet Visible
Continue driving away from storm direction
Check radar to see tornado path direction
Head at right angles to path if possible
Find sturdy shelter (restaurant, gas station)
Get inside a building
If Tornado Is Visible
Exit vehicle immediately
Get low - ditch or ravine
Away from vehicle (may be blown)
Cover head with hands
Lie flat, face down
NEVER Take Shelter Under Overpass
Wind speeds increase under bridges
Multiple deaths documented
Debris flies through opening
Overpasses NOT tornado shelter
Common but dangerous myth
If No Time to Exit
Stay in vehicle
Buckle up
Get below window level
Cover head with hands and arms
Cover with cushions if available
Prepare for impact
Better: Find Shelter Building
Gas stations often have interior areas
Fast food restaurants provide shelter
Truck stops with shelter areas
Motels have sturdy structures
Interior locations preferred
Prevention
Monitor weather before driving
Avoid travel during active warnings
Have NOAA weather radio in vehicle
Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled
Know shelter locations along route
Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →