| I was amazed when I turned on the news | | | | cars and in mobile homes are potentially at more |
| channel today. Last week it was the Haiti Disaster | | | | risk. And the sad fact is that no one is safe from |
| which wiped out over 100,000 people. Then I turn | | | | the fierce Tornado Path. The Federal Protective |
| on the news and hear tornado alerts not just for | | | | Service offers what it calls an OEP Guide which |
| Oceanside, but for Carlsbad, Fallbrook and San | | | | will help you develop a plan for you and your |
| Diego. For a brief second I think to myself, is the | | | | family should one hit in your area. |
| world starting to fall apart? I didn't really have a | | | | You should also have frequent Tornado Drills. If |
| panic attack, just a brief wake up moment. Of | | | | you are fortunate enough to have a basement in |
| course the Tornado Warning in San Diego didn't | | | | your home go down there with at least a 1 week |
| change anything out where I live, although I live | | | | supply of water and food to shelter yourself not |
| only 45 minutes away. | | | | only from the Tornado itself, but to make sure |
| It did rain a majority of the day out here. I went | | | | you and your family have enough to eat and |
| grocery shopping and yes I was almost soaking | | | | drink until emergency aid arrives. Also have an |
| wet while I was unloading the groceries into the | | | | NOAA or National Oceanic and Atmospheric |
| house. This incident did prompt me to do a little | | | | Administration radio handy. Make sure you have a |
| research regarding how to protect myself should | | | | backup battery and make sure the radio has a |
| a Tornado actually occur. | | | | warning alarm tone so you can get warnings in |
| A Tornado is a fiercely rotating circular column of | | | | real time. |
| air that originates from a thunderstorm and hits | | | | Also if possible keep a radio and television handy |
| the ground. Tornadoes can reach speeds of up to | | | | so you can keep on top of public weather alerts. |
| 250 miles per hour and destroy everything in its | | | | If no underground shelter is present, move to an |
| path. This includes lifting the tops off roofs, and | | | | interior room, get on the lowest piece of ground |
| replacing cars and even diesel trucks hundreds of | | | | and crawl under the heaviest, most sturdy piece |
| yards away. Of course the explosions from this | | | | of furniture in your house. I must say that the |
| activity can cause fires and other horrible damage. | | | | Tornado Warning in San Diego did freak me out a |
| Historically Tornadoes have caused damage of up | | | | bit, but at least now I have a few more coping |
| to 50 miles long and a mile wide. People sitting in | | | | methods. Best of luck. |