The best place to be when a twister hits is inside a storm cellar, which is an underground bunker in the house where people can safely find shelter and store valuable items. A storm cellar is even more effective than a basement because it has an overhead cover and therefore keeps people safe from falling debris and from being trapped inside it after the tornado passes.
People who do not have access to a storm cellar can protect themselves by staying in a closet or some interior room in the house, finding shelter between walls away from the wind. Those taking shelter, though, often forget that they should still watch out for falling and flying debris; finding a way to safely cover your head improves your chances of surviving the tornado. A strong bicycle helmet often provides a good way to protect your head.
Highways overpasses are the worst place to take shelter from a tornado. When drivers observe that a twister is close, they sometimes mistakenly attempt to find shelter under an overpass. The overpass, however, can act like a wind tunnel, thus making it extremely dangerous. Drivers should always try to find shelter in a building, where they will have access to a basement.
When finding shelter in a building is impossible, skilled drivers who know how to drive away from a tornado often quickly pick a route that will take them 90 degrees from the path of the twister. The biggest mistake of drivers is to try to outrun the tornado, but finding an escape route is the safest way to react to a twister. Driving away from it is not always possible, so leaving the car and finding protection in a ditch or culvert is the next best option in the face of the emergency. People taking shelter in a ditch need to remember that they are still vulnerable to flying debris, and should cover their head and avoid looking at the tornado as it passes.
