Seeing how sandstorms and dust storms occur, there many ways to take precaution. As simple as going under a counter or a table top, it may not help you. You need to have your whole entire body covered by something because these are very fine particles in the air that is being blown around. The most one can do to protect themselves from this storm is to go into covered areas or enclosed places. If someone was actually in the storm they may have a chance of getting to safety because as we mentioned the dust is very fine and if it gets into your eye you may loose your sight. The person or people can either take what ever clothes they have on and cover there faces leaving a little opening for there eyes so that they can see where they are going. As for buildings they just have to pull down there blinds and hope that the storm is not as bad to break through glasses or what ever covering they have.