Tornado Safety | Here’s what you should do before, during and after a tornado to keep you and your family safe – WHAS11.com

A violent and destructive tornado took a path nearly 50 miles long through downtown Nashville and its surrounding suburbs early Tuesday morning. Tornadoes are one of the most unpredictable natural disasters.

There is also a lot of misinformation and wives tales attached to tornadoes, which can put you or your family in harms way.

As we head into spring and summer where severe weather is a huge threat, we compiled a list of safety tips. Below you'll be find safety tips that lay out what to do before, during and after a tornado. WHAS11 News is also listed some facts about tornadoes from the National Weather Center.

What to do based on where you are:

House/Stand-alone building:

Mobile Home:

Apartment:

Car:

Miscellaneous Tips for Keeping Safe in a Tornado:

FICTION:Lakes, rivers, and mountains protect areas from tornadoes.

FACT:No geographic location is safe from tornadoes. A tornado near Yellowstone National Park left a path of destruction up and down a 10,000 foot mountain.

FICTION: A tornado causes buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead.

FACT: Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause the most structural damage.

FICTION: Open windows before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage.

FACT: Virtually all buildings leak. Leave the windows closed. Take shelter immediately. An underground shelter, basement or safe room are the safest places. If none of those options are available, go to a windowless interior room or hallway.

FICTION:Highway overpasses provide safe shelter from tornadoes.

FACT:The area under a highway overpass is very dangerous in a tornado. If you are in a vehicle, you should immediately seek shelter in a sturdy building. As a last resort, you can either: stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible, OR if you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.

FICTION:It is safe to take shelter in the bathroom, hallway, or closet of a mobile home.

FACT: Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes! Abandon your mobile home to seek shelter in a sturdy building immediately. If you live in a mobile home, ensure you have a plan in place that identifies the closest sturdy buildings.

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Tornado Safety | Here's what you should do before, during and after a tornado to keep you and your family safe - WHAS11.com