KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week for Missouri, and the annual statewide severe weather drill will take place at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A tornado warning will be sent out by all National Weather Service offices that cover Missouri for the drill. The warning will be clearly marked as a test but it will be coded as if it were the real thing.
A basement or other type of underground shelter is the safest place to go if threatened by a tornado. If someone threatened by the stronger tornadoes, an EF-4 or EF-5, does not get into an underground shelter, chances of survival are minimal, authorities say.
Officials offer a few more tips if you are caught in the path of a tornado:
- If a basement is not available move to the interior part of the lowest level of a building.
- Keep as many walls as you can between yourself and the wind outside.
- Stay away from all windows and doors.
- Mobile homes should be abandoned in favor of a more substantial building.
- If driving, and you can clearly see which way the tornado is moving, drive away in an opposite direction. If you cannot drive away, move quickly to the closest substantial building.
- As a last resort, seek shelter in a low spot such as a ditch or culvert. This may allow flying debris to fly over you.
These actions should become automatic, authorities say, and you may not have time to think about what you need to do.
If time allows, you should also assess the situation and make a proper, informed decision.
Copyright 2013 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
