Toyota safety tips for driving in a tornado

Bad weather is pretty much a way of life here in Central Florida during the summer months. If it's not scorching hot outside, then it's storming. Honestly, the afternoon squalls we see are just as intimidating as a tropical storm and with them bring the possibility of a tornado. Do you know how to react in this particular bad weather situation if you're behind the wheel? Check out these Toyota of Orlando tips on how to tackle driving in a tornado.

Executive Summary: 

• Tornadoes can develop quickly, so staying aware of weather alerts and knowing where to seek shelter before you hit the road can make a big difference.
• If a tornado warning is issued while you’re driving, your best move is to safely get off the road and take shelter inside a sturdy building, preferably in an interior room on the lowest level.
• If you can’t reach a sturdy building, a low-lying area or your vehicle may be last-resort options. Either way, get low and protect your head and neck from flying debris.
• Never shelter underneath a bridge or overpass, and don’t try to outrun a tornado. Tornadoes can change direction quickly, and heavy rain, hail, traffic, and debris can make driving even more dangerous.
• A little preparation goes a long way! Keep your Orlando Toyota ready for severe weather with good tires and windshield wipers, an adequately filled gas tank, and an emergency kit with essentials like a flashlight, phone charger, water, blanket, and sturdy shoes.

Tornadoes can develop quickly, which is why knowing what to do before severe weather hits is so important. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel around Orlando and Central Florida. A little preparation and knowing where to seek shelter can make a big difference if a tornado warning is issued while you're on the road. Let’s get into it! 

Quick tips for driving in a tornado

• Pay attention to weather alerts and tornado warnings before and during your drive.
• If a tornado is approaching, your best option is to get off the road and into a sturdy building as quickly and safely as possible.
• If you can't reach a sturdy shelter, getting low and protecting your head and neck are priorities.
• Your vehicle or a low-lying area should only be considered last-resort options when you can't safely reach a sturdy building.
• Never stop underneath an overpass or bridge to shelter from a tornado.

Driving in a tornado: How to spot that one is coming

The first thing to know about driving in a tornado is how to spot that one is about to happen. You should get warnings via your radio and your smartphone, but it's helpful to know how to tell if a tornado is imminent. Here are some surefire signs that you should take cover:

• The sky is turning a dark yellow-green color
• You feel an uneasy quiet or stillness all of a sudden in the middle of the storm - this is especially telling if you were just driving through hail or heavy rain and it stops all of a sudden
• A loud roaring noise reminiscent of a vacuum cleaner or a train
• You see debris falling around you or a cloud of debris in the distance at ground-level
• You actually see a rotating funnel extending down out of a cloud

However, don't wait until you can actually see a tornado before taking action. Heavy rain, trees, buildings, and darkness can make a tornado difficult or impossible to see. The National Weather Service recommends staying tuned to local news or NOAA Weather Radio and acting quickly when a tornado warning is issued.

It's also smart to keep Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your phone when you're on the road. Before heading out when severe weather is in the forecast, take a quick look at conditions and any active watches or warnings. If storms are already getting rough, delaying your trip until they pass may be the easiest and safest choice.

So what should you do if you do find yourself driving in a tornado? Check out these Orlando Toyota safety tips for this precarious situation.

Three Orlando Toyota safety tips for driving in a tornado

#1: Look for a way to get OFF the road. If you know you're about to be driving in a tornado, get OFF the road. Seek shelter in the nearest sturdy building; remember to head for an interior room on the lowest level, stay away from windows, and cover your head. Stay sheltered until the weather passes and the warning has ended.

A sturdy building is your best choice when you're caught driving in a tornado. The National Weather Service specifically recommends that drivers get to the closest safe shelter whenever possible rather than trying to ride out the tornado inside a vehicle.

And don't try to race a tornado to get home. If there's a safe building close by, use it. Tornadoes can change direction, and heavy rain, hail, traffic, and debris can make it difficult to safely navigate the road. If you're already close to the storm, your focus should be on finding safe shelter rather than trying to outrun it.

#2: Try to find a low-lying area for shelter. If you're in an area where you can't shelter in a building and you can safely get to an area noticeably lower than the roadway, a ditch or ravine may be a last-resort option. Once you're there, lie down in the low-lying area and cover your head and neck with your hands. Keep away from vehicles, trees, and other objects that could be blown or rolled toward you.

Keep in mind that there's no completely safe outdoor location during a tornado. A low-lying area is a last resort if you can't reach a sturdy shelter, and conditions like flooding can create additional dangers. Your first goal should always be to get inside a secure building if you have enough time to do so safely.

#3: Stay in your car if you have no safer option. If you can't find shelter and getting to a low-lying area isn't safe or practical, staying in your car may be your last resort. Put your seatbelt on, pull over safely out of traffic, and put the car in park. Try to hunch down so you're below the window line and cover your head and neck with your hands and anything soft you have in the car, like a blanket, coat, or jacket. Try to stop away from trees, power lines, and other objects that could fall or become dangerous debris.

The National Weather Service notes that both staying in a vehicle and taking cover in a low-lying area are last-resort options and that your choice depends on the specific circumstances around you. Neither is as safe as getting inside a sturdy building, basement, or designated safe room.

What NOT to do when driving in a tornado

And remember, you should NEVER try to shelter under a bridge or overpass while driving in a tornado. It may look like the structure offers protection, but it doesn't provide adequate shelter from tornado winds or flying debris. Stopping there can also block traffic and put other drivers in danger. The National Weather Service specifically lists vehicles and highway overpasses among the worst shelter options during a tornado.

You also shouldn't stop beneath a tree or park next to objects that could easily fall or be picked up by high winds. Tornado debris can be extremely dangerous, so keeping as much distance as possible between yourself and trees, signs, power lines, and other large objects is a good idea.

Finally, don't depend solely on being able to see the tornado. If your phone or local weather station issues a tornado warning for your location, take it seriously and start looking for safe shelter right away.

Prep your Orlando Toyota for severe weather

You can't control when bad weather shows up, but you can make sure your Toyota is ready when it does. Keep your gas tank adequately filled, make sure your tires are in good condition, and replace worn windshield wipers so you have the best possible visibility during heavy rain.

It's also a good idea to keep a small emergency kit inside your vehicle. A flashlight, portable phone charger, first-aid supplies, bottled water, blanket, and sturdy shoes can all come in handy during severe weather. Keeping a blanket or jacket in the car can also give you an extra layer of protection for your head and neck if you're ever forced to shelter inside the vehicle as a last resort.

Most importantly, keep an eye on the weather before you leave. If Central Florida is under a tornado watch or severe thunderstorms are headed toward your route, consider whether your trip can wait. Avoiding driving in a tornado altogether is always preferable to having to figure out where to shelter once you're already on the road.

Get Your Car Ready for Severe Weather at Toyota of Orlando 

Have questions about driving in a tornado, need tips for driving in bad weather, or want to get your car prepped and ready for severe weather? Call us! Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500. You can also visit us seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.

FAQs about driving in a tornado

Should you stay in your car during a tornado?

A sturdy building is the safer option. If you can't reach one, the National Weather Service says last-resort options may include getting low inside your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened and your head protected or, depending on the circumstances, getting to a noticeably lower area away from the roadway and vehicles.

Should you drive away from a tornado?

Your priority should be getting to the closest sturdy shelter rather than trying to outrun a tornado. Tornadoes can move unpredictably, while rain, hail, debris, and traffic can make driving dangerous. Never put yourself or other drivers at risk by speeding or making unsafe maneuvers to escape the storm.

Is it safe to park under an overpass during a tornado?

No. You should never use a highway overpass or bridge as tornado shelter. It doesn't provide adequate protection from powerful winds and flying debris, and stopping underneath one can block traffic and create additional hazards for everyone on the road.