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Tornado-Preparedness Advice for Your Fleet Drivers

Here’s some advice, culled from AAA and State Farm, on what safety measures your drivers can take if a tornado approaches while they’re on the road.

by Staff
May 22, 2013
2 min to read


Residents of Moore, Okla., had just a 16-minute warning before the devastating tornado first hit ground, just south of town, on May 20. That sobering fact underscores how quickly a twister can strike.

A "tornado warning" means a twister is developing or is actually on the ground. It’s more severe than a "tornado watch," which means conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms that might spawn tornadoes.

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Here’s some advice, culled from AAA and State Farm, on what safety measures your drivers can take if a tornado approaches while they’re on the road. You may want to pass this advice along to them as a reminder.

  • Tornadoes can toss cars and large trucks around like toys. Never try to outrun a tornado.

  • If you see a funnel cloud or hear a tornado warning issued on the radio or by siren, get out of your vehicle and seek a safe structure.

  • Seeking shelter indoors is best, if possible. A basement is safest. Closets or small interior rooms are preferable. Get under a sturdy piece of furniture or mattress and stay away from south and west walls and all windows.

  • Do not seek shelter in a mobile home. These structures, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned.

  • If you are caught in the open, with no indoor buildings available to you, find a ditch, ravine or low-lying area and lie flat. Stay away from roadway overpasses. Cover the back of your head and neck with your hands; keep alert for flash floods.

  • In general, whenever you're driving during a storm, remember that wet roads mean poor traction. Conditions are most dangerous during the first 10 minutes of a heavy downpour as oil and debris wash away. Driving on wet roads in the rain is just like driving on ice. Take it easy and allow extra time.

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