Tornado Toronto

Source: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca

UPDATE: The Tornado watch has been lifted. This post is being left up for posterity.

Hey everyone. There’s a tornado watch in Toronto. The pictures on twitter allegedly show the twister in the city of Toronto and the lightning is fierce right now. I’m not sure of their authenticity at the moment but it never hurts to be prepared just in case. I am typing this up to give you some quick tips on what to do in a tornado and syndicating it to all my social feeds.

Getprepared.ca has some general tips but I thought I would flesh them out a bit for apartment/condo dwellers. It’s a scary time right now and I just want to help where I can with planned redundancy in information. If you get the info you need from this site, great. If from somewhere else, also great. Just stay safe!

Read the tips below but stay glued to 680news radio for updates. If you still have television keep your eye on the news. If your area goes from “Tornado watch” to “Tornado warning” SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

If you are in a house

  • Go to the basement or take shelter in a small interior ground floor room such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.
  • If you have no basement, protect yourself by taking shelter under a heavy table or desk.
  • In all cases, stay away from windows, outside walls and doors.
If you can manage it, bring an emergency kit or provisions with you. Charge your cell phone if you don’t have a flashlight and use it for light. 

If you are in an office or apartment building

  • Take shelter in an inner hallway or room, ideally in the basement or on the ground floor.
  • Do not use the elevator.
  • Stay away from windows.
If you are in the upper floors of a high rise building try to get to the garage and stay there for the duration of the storm. If there is no garage get to the lowest floor possible or in a neighbour’s apartment. If you can’t make it down get in your bathtub and cover yourself with pillows, blankets or even your mattress to protect yourself from falling debris. This is the safest place in your apartment.
Again, If you can manage it, bring an emergency kit or provisions with you. Charge your cell phone if you don’t have a flashlight and use it for light.  

If you are driving

  • If you spot a tornado in the distance go to the nearest solid shelter.
  • If the tornado is close, get out of your car and take cover in a low-lying area, such as a ditch.

In all cases

  • Get as close to the ground as possible, protect your head and watch for flying debris.
  • Do not chase tornadoes – they are unpredictable and can change course abruptly.
  • A tornado is deceptive. It may appear to be standing still but is, in fact, moving toward you.