Is it safe to be in an apartment during a tornado?

In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.

Can a tornado tear down a building?

Yes. In fact, tornadoes damage hundreds of houses each year. Buildings are not spared. Even if the buildings are reinforced with concrete or steel, the windows are the real threat.

What to do if you live in an upstairs apartment during a tornado?

Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell , or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.

Is a stairwell safe during a tornado?

A stairwell is also a structurally safe place to be during a tornado, according to Mitchell. The first thing you’ll want to do if you find yourself in your car during a tornado is to seek shelter inside a building.

What happens if a tornado hits a building?

Most buildings like this cannot withstand the pressure from a tornado—they simply collapse. Get to the lowest level of the building (the basement if possible).

Are hallways safe during tornadoes?

The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. If you don’t have a basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. Heavy objects, such as refrigerators or pianos, could fall though the floor if the tornado strikes your house.

Do tornadoes ever hit high-rise buildings?

In most cases, the structure of the typical skyscraper is sufficient to withstand a tornado, although there have been cases where high-rise buildings have been twisted by tornadic winds to the point where the buildings were declared unsafe.

Can you build a tornado proof house?

Homes built with insulated concrete forms (ICF), like Fox Blocks, maintain their integrity during the high winds of a tornado. Insulating concrete forms can withstand winds of over 200 mph. Utilizing Fox Block ICFs for tornado-resistant construction can maintain a home’s integrity during a strong tornado event.

Can a tornado destroy an apartment complex?

In 2019 alone, there were 3 apartment buildings that were entirely or partially destroyed by tornados. A tornado can absolutely destroy an apartment complex. Most people think that structures as big as apartment buildings are capable of standing up to the intense winds of a tornado.

Where should you go in a tornado?

The safest place to go in a tornado is always down — down in a basement, the first floor or a covered parking garage on the ground floor. If you live on the ground floor, great! If not, get to the lowest level of your apartment building immediately. Apartment dwellers on higher floors should seek similar shelter.

How do you protect yourself from a tornado in an apartment?

If you can’t stay completely clear from windows during a tornado, do your best to block them and protect yourself. If you can, duct tape a blanket over the window or slide a big piece of furniture in front to keep glass out of your apartment.

Can you ride out a tornado in a bathroom?

Even if they have an exterior wall or windows, bathrooms are safe because the thick pipes inside the walls insulate you during a tornado. Climb into the bathtub if you have one and bring in your bed’s mattress to serve as a cover. These are usually interior rooms by design, making closets a good choice to ride out a tornado.