Driving across the Great Plains heartland, especially in late spring and early summer, be prepared to encounter Mother Nature’s most potent force: a tornado, whose swirling winds can reach from 150–300 mph or more. The Midwest has been dubbed “Tornado Alley,” for the frequency of storms that can hit the region. While the tornado at the start of The Wizard of Oz touched down in Dorothy’s home state, Kansas, they are just as likely to occur in Oklahoma, Missouri, or Mississippi.
Each year about a thousand tornadoes touch down in the United States, and 50 or so people are killed as a result. Tornadoes can last from several seconds to more than an hour, but most last around 10 minutes. You can greatly reduce the chance of injury by doing a few simple things. Be aware of the possibility of severe weather; most tornado-related deaths and injuries happen to people who are unaware and uninformed. Tune into local radio stations for current information. If a tornado watch has been issued, it means that a tornado is possible. If a tornado warning is issued, it means that a tornado has actually been spotted, and you should seek shelter immediately.
If you are in a car, do not try to escape from a tornado by driving away from it. Tornadoes have been known to blow cars off the road, or hurl them away. If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle. Do not seek shelter under a highway overpass, which act like wind tunnels, making the winds even stronger.
