If you live in a traditional northern home with a basement you have one of the better potential shelters available. Take a few minutes to select and prepare a good spot in your basement in case a tornado strikes your community. Avoid windows, doorways, and stairways. These are all entry areas for flying debris and the tornado's own winds. Underneath the basement stairway is a good shelter location.
Stairways are structurally sound and provide excellent protection against falling debris.
Another shelter choice is near any outside wall . Get beneath a sturdy piece of furniture like a table or workbench. Make sure all family members know the shelter location. Conduct a family tornado drill to test your plan. Some basic tornado safety rules apply if a tornado threatens and you are not at home.