How To Prepare For Tornado Season

Well, tornado season is truly upon us. As I type this blog post people out in the Plains are preparing for possible tornadoes from a storm coming out of the Rocky Mountains tomorrow. So, perhaps it is time to discuss how to prepare your household for a tornado.

How To Prepare For Tornado Season

• Prepare your yard by having any dangerous trees or tree limbs removed.
• Build a safety kit - check out FEMA's Build a Kit page!
• Food
• Water
• Battery-powered or crank radio
• Flashlight and batteries
• First-Aid kit
• Whistle
• Dust mask, plastic sheeting, and duct tape
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and twist ties
• Wrench or pliers
• Can opener
• Maps
• Cell phone and charger
• See website for more information
• Have a tornado safety plan:
• Pick the safest room in your house that all family members and pets will go to when a tornado may be coming. The best place is in a storm cellar or basement. If you don't have either option, then pick a room toward the center of your house, on the lowest floor, without doors or windows. 
• Mobile homes are not safe! If you have time, go to a shelter or the closest sturdy building. Plan your possible safe places ahead of time.
• FEMA's Ready.gov has a template that makes it very easy for you to create your own family emergency plan. I am going to make one for my home!
• Practice tornado drills so that everyone knows how to react to an approaching storm.
• Consider building a safe room.
• This room could be in the basement, the garage, or in a first-floor room in your house.
• There is a lot more information at the Ready.gov website under the "Preparing a Safe Room" tab. This includes a pamphlet and a manual for those of you who may be interested in taking this precaution.
• Know if your community has a tornado siren and what it sounds like.
• When you hear reports of a storm coming, make sure you store away loose items like yard/patio furniture and toys. If you can't move the item indoors then make sure you tie it down and secure it as well as you can.

Here are the two sites I used to gather information. As you can see, I color-coded them for you! There is so much more information at both these sites, so please check them out, especially if you live in a tornado-prone area!

American Red Cross: Tornado

FEMA's Ready.gov: Tornadoes

Being prepared for an extreme event, like a tornado, can mean the difference between life and death. Make sure you and the members of your household are prepared and knowledgeable. And of course, don't take any unnecessary risks! 

Stay safe this tornado season! I want you and your home to be around to prepare for the next tornado season, and the season after that, and the season after that, and the season after that...