By Staff
This week we were once again reminded that tornado season is at hand. In the aftermath of deadly tornadoes news commentators ceaselessly relayed the standard safety precautions, "go to an interior room, stay away from windows, etc." But what if you're not at home watching TV, but out mushroom hunting, trout fishing or camping. Never is a word said about what to do when you're outdoors far from shelter. From the lack of information in that regard one would assume the only thing you can do is turn your back to the oncoming whirlwind, bend sharply at the waist, firmly grasp both ankles and kiss… well, never mind, there are better alternatives anyway.
When outdoors the main threats of a tornado are being physically blown by the wind and being hit by flying debris, with the latter being by far the worst. If you can't get to a sturdy building the next safest place is in a deep ditch or depression, preferably out in the open. Against popular belief, tornadoes will not suck you up, the wind forces are largely horizontal, not vertical. By being below ground level most of the wind and all that debris flying about like shrapnel will pass over the top, hopefully.
Of course, I can just about guarantee a nice, neat foxhole will not be at hand in your time of need. All you can do is give it your best shot. A narrow creek or drainage ditch will do, hop in and get your knickers wet. A culvert under a road is better yet assuming your not in an area prone to flash floods. The experts say do not get under a highway overpass. An overpass funnels the wind, making it stronger yet and provides little protection from flying debris. Those folks that did that several years ago and got all the press were running on pure luck.
If you've ever seen where a tornado went through a forest you'd know being caught in the woods is not a good thing. The experts tell us to find our depression out in the open. But let's get real here, we're not likely to be strolling a pristine meadow when a tornado happens along. If we're dumb enough to be out at all we'll likely be deep in the woods hunting mushrooms, camping or some such thing. Now we're getting into uncharted ground where the tornado experts refuse to tread. Take note I am not giving you advice here, just relaying what I would do. If you follow this and get killed by a tornado don't come back and haunt me.
The main goal is to get protection from falling trees and limbs. My first choice would be to find a large, tipped over tree where the upturned root ball has left a deep hole in the ground. You see those quite often but with my luck it wouldn't be at that moment. If the terrain is hilly I would run for the lowest spot I could find. There I would look for a large log on the ground, pray that it is solid, not rotten, and snuggle up tight to it. If there is a convenient sapling to hang on to so much the better.
A trailer or motor home is the worse place you could possibly be, take your chances anywhere but there. A vehicle isn't much better. The experts advise if you're driving don't try to outrun the tornado. Use your available time to find a depression in the open. Personally, there are so many variables such as the size of the tornado, distance away, the road system and traffic that I would make my own decision on that at the time.
Finally, tornadoes are usually accompanied by lightning. Obviously, stay away from tall trees. If you feel tingling or your hair standing on end the lightning Gods have you in their crosshairs. Crouch down low with your hands on your knees, tuck your head between your legs and balance on the balls of your feet. The idea is to get as low as you can with the least amount of contact with the ground. Carpe diem.
Larry Lyons writes a weekly outdoor column for Leader Publications. He can be reached at larrylyons@beanstalk.net