It’s a cloudy afternoon,
perfect to relax,
watching the rain from the couch.
But wait.
What’s that in the sky?
Is that a tornado?
Oh, yes.
But this is a mega tornado,
and you’re right in its path.
What can you do?
Where should you hide?
Don’t worry.
Tornadoes can form
almost anywhere in the world.
They occur when warm and humid air,
near the Earth’s surface,
gets trapped underneath
a layer of cold and dry air.
The central part of the United States,
called Tornado Alley,
is the most likely area in the world
for tornadoes to form.
The cold air from the North Pole
meets the warm, moist, tropical air
from the Gulf of Mexico,
and forms these scary giants.
Tornadoes are measured
using the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
It rates tornadoes from EF0 to EF5,
based on the damage it caused.
EF0 tornadoes can have gusts of wind
of 100 km/h (62 mph),
and the incredible EF5 twisters
have wind gusts over 322 km/h (200 mph).
But the strongest tornado ever recorded
hit Oklahoma City on May 3, 1999.
Its wind speed reached 511 km/h (318 mph),
caused one billion dollars in damage
and killed 36 people.
But the one that's coming for you
is going to be even worse.
Every second can mean
the difference between life and death.
So learn to identify
the early signs of a tornado.
During the storm,
look for green or yellow clouds.
The winds sound like
loud rumbling and whistling.
And if you see a big funnel cloud forming,
it’s time to run, my friend.
On average,
the National Weather Service
can alert a town 18 minutes
before the tornado hits.
This may be not enough time
for you to find proper shelter,
so hurry up.
The best place to shelter is underground.
A basement with a reinforced entry
would be your lifesaving den.
If you aren’t near a basement,
look for thick concrete
or heavy buildings.
And don’t shelter under bridges
or overpasses.
A mega tornado could be strong enough
to take them down,
and bury you under debris.
If you’re in a car,
and a tornado forms around you,
look for shelter immediately.
Trying to drive away
could make you more vulnerable.
Tornadoes can easily lift up a car
and drop it.
In 1966,
a tornado reportedly sucked up a car.
Inside, a woman had been driving
with her 2-year-old daughter.
The car was lifted 20 m (65 ft)
from the ground,
and carried to the top of a building.
Surprisingly,
both the woman and her daughter
survived.
But not everyone is that lucky.
According to the National Weather Service,
7% of the people killed by tornadoes
were in vehicles when the storm hit.
Even if you’re tens of kilometers
from the tornado,
you can’t take it easy.
Tornadoes are extremely unpredictable.
They can change direction,
speed, and width every second.
And they can stay on the ground
for hours.
The Tri-State Tornado of 1925
stayed on the ground for three hours,
and traveled about 350 km (217 mi)
across Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana,
and killed near 700 people.
So, stay alert.
Tornadoes can form
almost anywhere in the world,
but some places get hit
a lot more often than others.
Tornado Alley includes some regions
of Texas, Iowa, Kansas,
Nebraska, and Ohio.
Bangladesh is another critical spot.
Six of the 10 all-time
deadliest tornadoes
have happened in this Asian country.
Actually, the deadliest tornado ever
took place here in 1989.
It killed about 1,300 people
and destroyed two towns.
If you live in any
of these dangerous areas,
be prepared.
Identify where there are
shelters underground,
and make emergency plans
with your family.
Include the best routes
to get there when necessary.
Always have emergency backpacks
with your important documents,
food,
water
and medicines.
If you're in a shelter
and it seems the storm is over,
don’t rush out immediately.
It could take hours
before it’s safe to leave.
There could be mini-tornadoes
rotating around the main one.
And they can kill you as well.
Or the tornado could return.
You need to stay informed,
but your phone may not work.
So keep a radio
with fresh batteries handy.
Then you'll be able to hear
if it's safe to come out.
You did it.
The town is devastated.
But you and your family
are alive and healthy.
And you have a plan
for the next time.
But wait.
What’s that in the sky?
Is that a fire?
Oh gosh.
It’s an asteroid,
and it’s about to impact the Earth.
How could you survive this?
Find out now.