Escape to the basement during a tornado

Created: 05/19/2022, 02:23 p.m

Tornadoes can cause severe damage.

© Silas Stein/dpa/dpa-tmn

Tornadoes are rare.

They need certain conditions to develop - but according to the German weather service, they will be available on Friday.

How to react in an emergency.

Offenbach - There is nothing to gloss over here: tornadoes are life-threatening.

Although the weather phenomena rarely occur in this country, you should know how to protect yourself from the consequences.

Andreas Friedrich, Tornado Officer of the German Weather Service (DWD), has tips:

Tip 1: Hide in a windowless room

If you are in a permanent building or can withdraw there, you should go to the basement if possible.

And there far away from all doors and windows, if possible even go into a windowless room.

Because there you are safe from debris that the tornado throws up and can smash through the windows, shutters, even garages with steel doors.

Tip 2: Take shelter outdoors in a hollow

If you are out in the open and can neither avoid the tornado nor reach a permanent building, you should look for a hollow in the terrain.

It's best to be as far away as possible from houses, trees, and objects that the tornado can knock over and lift off.

Because they would be deadly missiles.

You should lie flat face down in the hollow.

dpa