Know the county that you live in, and keep a highway map nearby to follow storm movement and weather bulletins. Listen to radio and television reports for information. Place important documents and heirlooms in a portable weatherproof container that can be easily located and carried to your vehicle. If a tornado strikes your area, remember that a house built to code will stand up to most tornadoes. Stay inside, keep away from windows and go to an interior room, such as a bathroom.
Plumbing can provide structural stability.
If you are in the open countryside, take shelter in a ditch or ravine or lie flat on the ground upwind of your parked car or mobile home. Cars and mobile homes are particularly vulnerable. A strong tornado can pick up a car. Mobile homes have a large surface area relative to their weight, making them good candidates for overturning. Suppose that when a tornado strikes you're in a public place, such as a shopping mall, hospital or factory.