Preparing for a Tornado

When a tornado is coming you have very little time to make important decisions. So get prepared ahead of time. Practice with your family before the beginning of the tornado season every year, practice of what everyone should do. Have a designated area in the home where everyone will meet. Have your disaster supplies on hand, including a Survival Kit (72 hours, 3 days) for each member of your family. Have a plan for getting together in case family members are separated during a tornado. Designate an out-of-state relative to be the family contact. This is the person to call to let everyone know your status. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address and phone number of the contact person. A tornado watch is issued when tornadoes are possible in your area. Be alert, gather your family and remind your family members where the safe place is in your home. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been seen or indicated by weather radar. Some signs that you can watch for that may indicate a tornado is coming are an approaching cloud of debris, even if you can’t see the funnel. The wind may die down and the air may become very still and tornadoes usually trail the edge of a thunderstorm. Close all your windows and doors, secure your home the best you can and wait for the tornado.

• There is usually little warning, get prepared ahead of time.
• Have designated area in home where family can meet.
• Have a Survival Kit (72 hours, 3 days) packed and ready.
• Make sure you can easily close or cover all windows and doors.