TOLEDO, Ohio — Last week's severe weather and tornadoes left swaths of damage for many residents across northwest Ohio.
WTOL 11 received multiple videos of tornadoes on the ground. While it may be tempting to catch footage, being out on the road during a tornado can be life-threateningly dangerous.
Jeff Klein, the deputy director of the Wood County Emergency Management Agency, provided advice on how to stay safe in your car during severe weather events.
"Be aware of what's going on with the weather of the day," Klein said. "I think that's one of the things that a lot of people miss right off the bat. We do talks and we say, what's the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning."
It's important to make sure you have a plan in place just in case a tornado does happen. When tornado watches are issued, do not take them lightly. The National Weather Service issues watches well in advance so you can be prepared just in a warning is issued. But if you do end up being out in a car during a tornado, how do you protect yourself?
"You want to make sure that the seatbelt is on good and tight because that's going to hold you in place so we don't have to worry about being blown out of a car or something like that," Klein said.
Flying debris goes hand-in-hand with tornadoes. How do you protect yourself from flying objects and the possibility of glass breaking?
"We want you to do down below the windows where if there's anything blowing into the car, you can protect yourself, protect your head and keep your face down," he said. "If there's debris flying over you, your face and body are as protected as they can be."
If you see a tornado while driving, safety always comes first, Klein said.
"When it comes to video recordings, I think all of us want to get that 1 in 1,000,000 shot," he said. "But the reality is your safety comes first.
Also be prepared with a safety kit in your car before leaving your house or job, along with being able to receive alerts for updates on severe weather.
WTOL 11 keeps you updated with the latest information on severe weather on-air, online and on our free WTOL 11 weather and news apps, both of which are available on the Apple and Google stores.