People should make preparations for tornado season Published Nov. 2, 2006 By Master Sgt. Russell Black 71st Operations Support Squadron Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- Spring is here and violent weather already experienced in some parts of the country. With that in mind, people should review some tornado safety tips. The most important thing people can do to stay safe during a tornado is take shelter. During a May 3, 1999, Oklahoma tornado outbreak, 45 people were killed. The leading cause of death was injuries sustained from flying debris. The proportion of deaths was higher for those that were sheltered in mobile homes, apartment buildings or outdoors opposed to those taking shelter in homes. The facts show that taking shelter in a house is the best option. Following are some tips for taking shelter in a house: n Residents of new enlisted base housing should take shelter in the safe room. n Residents of base housing or in housing off base without a safe room should take shelter in a small interior room, like a bathroom or closet. Place as many walls between you and the tornado as possible. n Crouch down and cover your head with your hands. n Put on a heavy coat and cover yourself with blankets, mattresses and other thick padding. Another important tool to help people stay safe and comfortable in the aftermath of a tornado is a disaster kit. People should consolidate and store the disaster kit in their shelter room. Below is a list of items that as a minimum should be in a disaster kit : n Flashlight and extra batteries n Battery-operated radio n Extra batteries n First-aid kit n Emergency food and water n Manual can opener n Essential medicines n Cash and credit cards n Sturdy shoes n Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members Designate a shelter now. Make sure all family members know where the designated shelter is. Assemble a disaster kit and place it in the shelter location. Practice taking sheltering with family members. For people who are walking or riding a bicycle, it is doubly important they go home immediately. If caught in the open, people should seek a safe place immediately. The chances of encountering falling trees, power lines and lightning is greater than encountering the tornado itself. The basement of a sturdy building would be the best place, but lying flat in a ditch or low-lying area may be the only thing available. A culvert in a ditch may be a good choice if there is no rain, but if there is rain, flash flooding may be more dangerous and likely than the tornado. If individuals are driving and a tornado is forming or approaching, leave the vehicle and take shelter. People may think they can escape from the tornado by driving away from it, but they may not know what they may be driving into. A tornado can blow a car off a road, pick a car up; hurl or roll it. Many people have been killed in cars while they were trying to outrun the tornado. Although it is sometimes possible to escape, it is generally not a good idea to try. Additionally, do not park a vehicle underneath an overpass. This puts motorists at risk. Take precautionary measures today to stay safe from tornadoes this spring.