How Do I Protect My Family and Prepare for a Tornado?

What is the best way to prepare ourselves for a tornado?

This is never a fun conversation, but it is an important conversation that we must always think about during periods of high storm damage, tornado damage, or inclement weather that will affect your home, livelihood, and family. Here are an initial list of steps to conduct,

1. Stay Informed: Keep track of weather forecasts and warnings. Tornadoes can develop quickly, so having access to up-to-date information is crucial. Weather apps, NOAA Weather Radio, and local news stations are good sources.
2. Have a Plan: Create a tornado emergency plan for your household or workplace. Know where to seek shelter and have multiple options in case one becomes inaccessible. Practice your plan regularly, especially if you have children.
3. Identify Shelter: The safest place during a tornado is a basement or storm cellar. If that’s not available, seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. Bathrooms, closets, or under stairwells are often good options.
4. Build a Tornado Kit: Put together an emergency kit with essential supplies like water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, blankets, and a portable weather radio. Make sure everyone in your household knows where it’s located.
5. Secure Your Property: Regularly maintain your home and yard to minimize potential tornado damage. Trim trees and bushes, secure outdoor furniture and objects that could become projectiles, reinforce garage doors, and consider installing impact-resistant windows or shutters.
6. Create a Communication Plan: Ensure everyone in your household knows how to communicate during and after a tornado. Designate an out-of-state contact person for family members to check in with if separated.
7. Stay Alert: Keep an eye on the sky and be attentive to weather alerts. Tornadoes can form rapidly, so don’t wait for an official warning if conditions seem threatening.
8. During a Tornado Warning: If a tornado warning is issued for your area, take immediate action. Seek shelter in the lowest level of your building, preferably in a small, windowless room at the center, away from exterior walls.
9. Protect Yourself: Cover your head and neck with your arms or a sturdy object to protect against flying debris. Use mattresses, blankets, or pillows for additional protection if available. Wait until authorities announce that the tornado warning has expired and it’s safe to leave your shelter. Be cautious when exiting, as there may be hazards such as downed power lines or debris.

These are just a list of a few items. Lets deep dive into the first few items on the list.

Stay Informed During Tornado Season

Listen to you local news stations, stay in touch with neighbors, and follow meteorologist information. There are a few YouTube channels that do a great job of tracking these storms. They have been helpful during periods of time that we experience intense weather conditions and patterns.

If you are in doubt, move yourself to a safer location immediately.

Have a Plan When A Tornado Hits

What does this mean? Where does your family meet in a scenario like this? Do you have a secondary location outside of your house if everyone is scattered around town. What if cell phone towers are knocked down? What would you do?

Set up an interior plan for the family. Meet in the basement or a safe location designated in your home. Provide a secondary meet up location and if you can a tertiary option. Providing multiple plan routes are important and effective for the safety of the entire family.

Who will be in charge if the main point of contact isn’t there or available? Provide scenarios and do a drill as a family on a nice weekend. Preparation is always key in these scenarios.

Build A Tornado Kit During Storm Season

What is comprised in a tornado kit?

Flashlight, batteries, food, water, tent lights, whistles, LED Flashlights, more batteries, poncho, headlamps, and even more items. Reach out to us if you have any questions about dealing with storm damage.

Our office line is 877-605-8429, ext 101 to reach our premier public adjuster.

Email us at claimcommander@gmail.com and info@claimcommanderinc.com.

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