With the recent bouts of severe weather in North Texas, understanding how to survive a tornado has never been more crucial. NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell highlighted the importance of preparedness and awareness, especially given the active weather patterns this spring.
For residents, especially newcomers to North Texas, knowing how to react during severe weather can make all the difference.
Mitchell offered simple yet effective rules for tornado survival: “Rule number 1, get as low as you possibly can. And rule number 2, put as many walls in between you and the outside as possible.”
If you're at home, the safest place during a tornado is an interior room on the lowest floor.
“You want to be in an interior room. That’s a room where none of the walls touch the outside, like a closet or a bathroom or a hallway,” Mitchell advised. This strategy minimizes exposure to flying debris and structural damage.
For those living in manufactured homes, Mitchell's advice is even more critical: Get out!
"Your plan of action should be to get out of the manufactured home and get to a more sturdy structure...because there's just no safe place in a manufactured home.”
Knowing where to go ahead of time—to a nearby library, Walmart, or other solid building—can be life-saving.
Mitchell also stressed the importance of having an emergency kit ready, especially considering the unpredictable nature of severe storms.
“Have a generator if possible, flashlights, batteries, and make sure your phones are charged,” he recommended.
Preparation extends beyond just knowing your shelter spot but also having the necessary supplies to weather the aftermath of a storm.
Keeping an eye on weather forecasts and alerts can provide those precious extra minutes needed to get to safety.
Mitchell reminds everyone that mindful preparation is the best defense against severe weather.
“Remember, be prepared,” he said.
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