.TORNADO SAFETY...

IN ILLINOIS...MOST TORNADOES OCCUR FROM APRIL THROUGH
JUNE...DURING THE MID AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING HOURS...BUT
THEY CAN OCCUR ANYTIME OF DAY AND ANY MONTH OF THE YEAR. ILLINOIS
HAS AN AVERAGE OF 44 TORNADOES A YEAR WHICH MAKES IT FIFTH IN THE
NATION IN TORNADOES PER SQUARE MILE. THERE WAS A RECORD 124
TORNADOES IN ILLINOIS IN 2006.

WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS...YOU MAY ONLY HAVE SECONDS TO SAVE
YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. HAVE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR YOUR HOME...
SCHOOL...AND WORKPLACE. KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE BEST TORNADO
SHELTER.

IN A HOME...GO TO THE BASEMENT AND GET UNDER THE STAIRWELL...OR
UNDER A HEAVY PIECE OF FURNITURE. IF THERE IS NO BASEMENT...GO TO
AN INTERIOR CLOSET...HALL OR BATHROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS. COVER YOUR HEAD WITH PILLOWS OR SOFA CUSHIONS.

IN SCHOOLS...HOSPITALS...CHURCHES AND OFFICE BUILDINGS...GO TO
SMALL INTERIOR ROOMS OR HALLS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS. AVOID LARGE OPEN AREAS WITH FREE SPAN ROOFS SUCH AS
GYMNASIUMS AND CAFETERIAS.

IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS...IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO GET TO THE LOWEST
FLOOR...BUT GO TO INTERIOR HALLS...BATHROOMS OR CLOSETS.

IN SHOPPING CENTERS...AVOID LARGE OPEN AREAS AND GLASS. SEEK
SHELTER IN BATHROOMS...SMALL INTERIOR SPACES AND BEHIND COUNTERS.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE IN YOUR VEHICLE.

ABANDON MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES FOR A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT LIE FLAT IN A DITCH. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER
UNDER AN OVERPASS.