Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year in Texas, but they
happen most often in spring and summer. The Town of Westlake urge
citizens to learn what to do when a tornado is sighted. The most
important rule is to get low and stay low.
Seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of the home, such as a bathroom, closet or room without windows.
In an office building, go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor.
Leave your mobile home and take shelter in a nearby building. If a building is nearby, lie flat in a ditch or ravine.
Never
stay inside a car. Leave the car and lie flat in a ditch or a
ravine. If a building is nearby, take shelter inside. Never
try to outrun a tornado in your car.
At school, follow plans
and go to a designated shelter area, usually interior hallways on the
lowest floor. Avoid auditoriums, gyms and areas with wide,
free-span roofs.
Go to the interior rooms and halls on the
lowest floor of a shopping center. Do not leave the shopping
center to get into your car.
If you are in open country, take cover on low, protected ground.
Avoid
areas near exterior glass or doors, areas along exterior walls, or
rooms with wide expanse roofs - such as auditoriums, cafeterias and
gyms.
Learn the difference between a Tornado Watch and a
Tornado Warning. A Tornado Watch means watch the sky. A
Tornado Warning means a tornado is on the ground and you must seek
shelter immediately.
