With over 1000 tornadoes recorded in the United States of America every year, they’re unfortunately common — much as we wish they weren’t.
Tornadoes can seem terrifying, both to those who’ve been through one and those who’ve never had the misfortune. Although they can wreak extreme damage to your property and family, the best way to avoid this is to be prepared for them.
Spring may be famous for tornadoes, but they can hit at any time of the year. It’s important that you have all year round tornado prep, and are ready to spring into protective action should one threaten to hit.
1. Have a Plan During the Tornado
The most essential thing you can do is to have a plan.
The safest thing to do during a tornado is to go to a room in the house that’s well-protected, so make sure this room is known and accessible. A basement or a large closet at the center of the house will work but failing that, just be as far away from windows and the outside walls as possible.
You should make sure your important documents are in a safe place and there’s never loose debris lying around outside that could be caught up in a tornado.
If you have an outdoor pet, make sure they can be brought inside!
2. Be Connected at All Times
You should be on your phone or at least listening to the radio at all times during a tornado (with a back-up).
There’s a difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. If a tornado watch is announced, it means there’s a chance of one forming in your area. A warning means one has already formed or is about to.
If a tornado watch is issued, you should be ready to go to your safe place. If a warning is issued, get to your safe place immediately.
3. Have a Kit in Case You Need to Evacuate
Sometimes evacuation will be necessary. Although tornados often come on short notice and evacuation isn’t necessary, sometimes they’re a side-effect of hurricanes — in which case, you will have had warning and might have gotten out.
Whether you’re going to your safe room or leaving the house entirely, a kit is necessary for when you hear that tornado siren. Good things to include are:
- Portable phone chargers
- A flashlight and batteries
- Water
- Snack bars
- Any medication
- Important documents that you can’t afford to lose
Customize the kit for what suits you and your family.
4. Remove Weak Trees in Your Yard
One of the biggest dangers of a tornado comes from weak trees. If there are dead limbs and trees that might not be able to hold their own in a strong funnel wind, be preemptive and get them cut down.
If you keep delaying it, a tornado might hit and trees could fall on the house or worse, a family member. By removing them from your yard, you’re eliminating one potential danger.
Even if you don’t live in tornado alley and it’s unlikely one will hit you, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Know the Signs of a Tornado
Although you’ll generally hear a tornado siren or get a phone alert if one is headed to you, it’s important to know the signs in case you’re out on the road or don’t have an internet signal. That way you’ll be able to tell if a tornado is forming and be able to take cover without relying on anyone else.
Signs of a tornado forming include:
- A dark sky (during the day) that might have a green tinge
- The wind suddenly dying down
- A rumbling noise
- A funnel-shaped cloud
- Falling debris, even if you can’t see a funnel
If you see any of these signs, even if you aren’t sure they herald a tornado, it’s time to take cover just in case.
6. Educate the Whole Family
Although you may have done your research on tornadoes and be educated in case one hits, make sure your family knows what you do in case one hits when you aren’t home.
Take some time to show them where the tornado kit is and the safe room in the house. It’s also worth checking that your children’s schools and your family’s workplaces have tornado plans in place, should one hit while everyone is going about their day.
You can’t guarantee that you’ll be around all the time, so make sure you share the wealth of knowledge you have about tornadoes. That’ll give you peace of mind if you’re at work or have to take a trip somewhere and are suddenly alerted of a tornado warning at home.
7. Do Some Research In Case One Hits Your Home
If the worst happens and your home is in the path of a tornado, you should know what to do afterward.
Have some plans about how you would repair the damage. Look into your insurance policy to check what’s covered and what isn’t, and have some companies in mind that can carry out what you might need.
Avoid storm chasers — the people who follow storms and repair the damage in their wake for a high price. The quality of their work isn’t good, and they can be exploitative. This article has more details on why you should avoid them.
Tornado Prep is Important — Just in Case
With any luck, your home will never be in the direct path of a tornado. Unfortunately, nothing is guaranteed, and tornado prep is essential so that if the worst ever does happen, you know exactly what to do to protect yourself, your property, and your family.
For more important information that can help you in life, check out the rest of our site.
