When a tornado's heading your way, the best thing you can do is to go your basement or better yet, to a purpose-built storm shelter. The problem is, not everyone has access to either. With that in mind, Missouri-based entrepreneur Steve Anderson created the Tuuli Armor Tornado Shield. Essentially, it's a big bag that you get inside of.
After zipping yourself into the Tornado Shield, you then lie down on the floor in the safest place you can find (such as a bathtub). While it won't keep you from being crushed, its ballistic nylon construction is intended to protect against lacerations caused by flying bits of debris – such injuries are the most common type suffered by tornado victims.
Steve has tested the material against various glass, metal and wooden objects, of the type that might be whizzing through the air in a building being demolished by a tornado. Using an air cannon, he fired these items at the material, at speeds ranging from 200 to 260 mph (322 to 418 km/h). It reportedly stood up well to all of them, including a rebar-like steel rod that didn't penetrate the nylon at all, but that did go through unprotected wood.
Once the shield is zipped up, it has no openings that could catch the wind and cause it to become airborne.
Each Tornado Shield is large enough to hold two adults and a child, so not every family member would necessarily need their own – the combined peoples' weight in the one unit should also help keep it anchored on the ground.
Anderson is currently raising production funds, on Indiegogo. A pledge of US$320 will get you one, when and if they're ready to go. More information is available in the pitch video below.
Source: Indiegogo
For example.... how many folks do you know that have an ABC rated fire extinguisher in their homes? Or a second story escape ladder. Or even a weeks worth of food ration in the event you loose power or there is some major catastrophe. I even know of more than one diabetic that doesnt keep more than a weeks supply of insulin around. So despite Anderson's best efforts, the people who really need this wont bother.
So here I'm struck by the notion that even if a piece of 2x4 or rebar traveling at high speed doesn't penetrate the fabric, won't it break bones and likely kill the occupant anyway? Which I guess reinforces the notion of this becoming a handy pre-filled body bag for emergency crews who come in after the storm.
I think the idea has great merit, and at least offers protection from the maelstrom of shards of glass alone that would slice you to pieces.