Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1883-06-06
How to Act in a Tornado,

From the Popular Science Monthly for JuneI
| Sergeant John P. Finley, signal service
| officer at Kansas City, Mo-, has published in
| a pamphlet on tornadoes some useful direc-
| tons concerning the dangers of those terrible
forces. The inhabitant of a tornado-fre-
quented district must be watchful in the sea-
son of visitations, for he can never know
when the destruction will come upon him.
On the first sign of the approaching vortex,
he must run-always to the north, unless by
going in that direction he will have to cross
| the entire path of the storm. If he is nearer
to the southern edge than to the center of the
probable path, he may go south, bearing
slightly east but in no event should he ever
run directly to the east or northeast. It is
impossible to save any building that may lie
in the path of the tornado, or any property
that cannot be got out of its way. No mate
rial, no method of construction can be COM
petent to resist the raging destruction. Moth
ing rising above the ground can escape it.
The most practicable measure of precaution
is to construct dug out at some suitable
point, within easy distance from the house,
to serve as place of refuge or shelter. The
retreat should be entirely under ground, with
q roof at least three feet thick not rising
above the surface of the earth, and entered
from the northern or eastern side. A 'fcel-
lar-cave" may be constructed from the cellar.
If the house has one, to serve as substitute
for the stdug out" It should be excavated
from the west wall of the cellar, toward the
west, and should be made as complete and
secure as the dug out" If, however, the
storm cannot be escaped, if no refuge is at
hand, or there is not time to get to it, the
safest thing to do is to place ones self against
the west wall of the cellar, face forward, or
against the south wall, as near the southwest
corner rs possible. The northeast quarter is
in any case fatal position, and should al
ways be avoided. IF one is actually over
taken by the tornado his only resource is to
cast himself face downward upon the ground,
with his head to the east and his arms thrown
over his head to protect it. If a stump or
large stone, or anything heavy that the wind
viii not blow over, is near, he may get tri-
de of protection by throwing himself to the
eastward of it. IF in q house with no cellar
he should get into the west room, on the
ground-hoor if possible, and away from all
stoves and heavy furniture. The people of
towns might find it to their advantage to pro-
vide for having watch, to be on duty on all
days when the air bears the premonitory
symptoms of q violent wind storm, to give a
signal to the whole population on the appear
ance of the first real threatening signs. The
signs of the formation and approach of a tor
nado-cloud are distinct and sufficiently sug-
gestive to afford opportunity for timely and
concerted action Sergeant Finley is contin-
uing his investigations of the phenomena of
tornadoes, and he has prepared three full
facts attendant upon the appearance of the
storms, which he sends to persons who were
within the path Of one, who were on the outer
edge of the path and who were from ten to
enc hundred miles from it.