On May 20th, in Moore Oklahoma, a family of five rode out the tornado in their bathtub. A mom and her son also sought shelter in their bathtub. After the tornado, they were covered with debris from the ceiling and walls but were able to call from their cellphones to reach for help. It is amazing to see all the devastation these past few days that have occurred in Moore Oklahoma from the powerful F9 tornado . Victims are speaking out today showing their astonishment that they were able to survive such a force of nature. While some hid in closets and tornado shelters, many people were hiding in their bath tubs with bike helmets on their heads and mattresses covering them. Many of these tornado victims credit their bathtubs with saving their lives.
Seeking shelter in a bathtub can help save your life during a tornado. Studies have shown that when much of a home has been destroyed, often the only surviving part of the dwelling is a small interior room, such as a closet or bathroom. This has to do with more supportive wall framing versus ceiling surface area.The bathtub and commode are directly anchored to the ground. They are often the only things left intact after a tornado passes. When in a bathtub, cover yourself with a couch cushion, a mattress or something soft. This will help protect you from debris. While a bathroom can provide protection during a tornado, the basement is still the best place to go if you have one.
Many people understand the importance of a basement when they need to hide during a tornado, but not nearly as many people understand what to do if they don’t have a basement during storm season. The good news is with a little preparation a person can protect themselves in any environment during a storm. Some basic knowledge will go a long way to help a person hide during a tornado no matter where they are at.
If you’re in a place where they don’t have a basement and you need to hide during a tornado then choose interior supporting walls. If it’s a public place then try to pay attention to what signs they have offering storm safety for that building. This way you’ll be prepared if a storm hits.
To help the victims of Moore Oklahoma text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes.
