Nearly 70 tornadoes have touched down across the United States in the last four days. And more tornadoes are expected in the coming days.
In the midst of peak tornado season, it's important to remember the best places to seek shelter when a tornado warning is issued.
Basement
This is hands down the best place to be if a tornado is headed your way. Just make sure you're away from any windows or heavy objects that could fall onto you. Bonus protection if you're able to get under a sturdy table or cover yourself with a mattress.
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Tornado shelter
While these aren't that common, you can sometimes find them at homes in and around tornado alley that don't already have basements and in mobile home developments. These are usually small underground bunkers that can protect you from the flying debris common with tornadoes.
Bathroom or interior closet
The main criteria here is to find an interior room away from windows on the lowest floor possible. Once there, crouch as low as possible, facing down while covering your head with your hands. A bathtub can offer some additional protection, and throwing a mattress or other heavy padding can also help.
Being in the bathroom saved this young Oklahoma man's life during a tornado not long ago.
A ditch
This should only be your last-ditch effort. If a tornado is bearing down on you, and you don't have time to get inside a sturdy building and into an interior room, then find a low lying area, crouch down and cover your head.
Lying down in a ditch is a better option than staying in a mobile home, in a car or outside.
Regardless of where you live, you should have a tornado preparedness plan ready to go in case you need it.
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