what to do in a tornado in a car

[MacLondon]

The absolute safest thing to do if a tornado is approaching while you are in a car is to immediately leave the vehicle and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If that is impossible, your next best option is to get to a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine and lie flat, covering your head. A car offers very little protection against a tornado's violent winds and flying debris.

Staying inside a vehicle is extremely dangerous. The high winds can easily roll or toss a car, and debris can shatter windows and cause serious injury. Your primary goal is to put as many substantial barriers between you and the storm as possible.

Your Action Plan, in Order of Priority:

1. Find a Sturdy Building: Drive to the nearest solid structure—a restaurant, gas station, or any public building with a basement or interior room on the lowest floor. Do not take shelter in a mobile home or a structure with a wide-span roof like a gymnasium or auditorium, as these are highly vulnerable.
2. If No Building is Accessible: Abandon the car. Look for the lowest ground you can find, such as a ditch or culvert. Lie face-down and cover the back of your head and neck with your arms. Be aware of the potential for flash flooding.
3. As a Last Resort Only: If you are in open country with no ditch available, stay in your car with your seatbelt on. Get your head below the level of the windows and cover yourself with a coat or blanket if possible. This is the least safe option and should only be considered if options 1 and 2 are not viable.

Never try to outrun a tornado in your car. Tornadoes can change direction erratically and move at speeds over 50 mph, making them difficult to predict and outrun, especially on unfamiliar roads.

[LaCecilia]

Don't even think about trying to outdrive it. Your first move should be to find a solid building and get inside. If you're stuck on the road with nothing around, get out of the car. I know it sounds crazy to leave your vehicle, but it's a death trap in a tornado. Find a ditch, lie down flat, and cover your head. Your car can become a projectile. Your body low in a ditch has a much better chance.

[VanCooper]

I think of it like a survival hierarchy. The top priority is a permanent structure. If that's not an option, the ground itself becomes your shelter. The car is a metal box that offers a false sense of security. The key is to abandon it and get as low as possible to avoid being struck by flying debris, which is the leading cause of tornado-related injuries. The goal is to put earth between you and the storm, not glass and sheet metal.

[SanEmmanuel]

My dad, who grew up in Tornado Alley, always said, "The car is the last place you want to be." He drilled into us that if the sky turns green and the sirens go off, you get to a basement. If you're driving, you find a ditch. It's not comfortable, and you might get muddy, but it's saved lives. Trying to be a hero and outrun it is how people get killed. Nature always wins that race.

[JakeLee]

The most critical mistake is attempting to outrun the tornado. Your focus should be on situational awareness. Listen to weather alerts on the radio. If you see a tornado or are in a Tornado Warning, your goal is to get to a substantial shelter. If trapped, your priority shifts to minimizing exposure. Leaving the car and getting into a low-lying area drastically reduces your profile. Remember, in a car, you are exposed to glass and the risk of being thrown. Outside, flat on the ground, you are a smaller target.