This is a short excerpt from our training material covering some of the things you can do as a thunderstorm or weather front approaches (Tornado Watch), but not when an actual tornado has touched down (Tornado Warning).
If there’s some good news, it’s that tornadoes come with a little bit of a warning, even before an “official” warning is given. In other words, tornadoes don’t generally drop down out of a clear blue sky. So if severe storms are predicted and certainly when a “Watch” is issued, you’ll want to take specific steps to help protect you and yours.
To preface our “to do” list, let’s set the stage with some general pointers.
A tornado requires a “shelter” reaction so everything below is organized in an “outside first then inward” progression. Everything you do should take you closer and closer to your safe area. However, keeping in mind that time is our most valuable asset, remember that storms don’t always come through in “fronts” that can be tracked from far away. Some “pop up” thunderstorms can spawn tornadoes too.
If severe storm or tornado “Watches” have been issued for your area (that means conditions are right for one to form but nothing has happened just yet) the first thing you should do is reconsider any travel plans you might have for the day. Limit your exposure outside of buildings. Think of spending the day at home if that’s possible or staying close to the office if that’s an option.
We’ll reiterate the point that with any emergency, especially with something as destructive as a tornado, we recommend you take all the steps you can in advance, before the “season” even begins. If you haven’t read it already, “part I” is called “Tornado Preparedness: The 6 Keys to Safety” and can be found at http://www.disasterprep101.com/tornadoes.htm. It covers a lot of the precautions you can put in place early such as creating a safe room (or making a storm cellar out of a septic tank), equipment you should have on hand, and other preparedness pointers.
Remember that heavy storms that might generate a tornado also carry with them lightning, heavy rains, and possibly hail. That means you have to keep in mind threats of fire, flooding, and hail damage.
This quick list should take you no more than thirty minutes and it applies more to your reactions at home than the workplace. A list of steps to take at the workplace will follow in another article.
1. In inclement weather, keep your radio and/or TV tuned to news and weather stations. You can also find weather notices that can be sent to your cell phone. If any alert or “watch” is issued make sure the rest of your family knows. Do the same for neighbors. If a “Warning” is issued, skip all these steps and head straight to your safe area.
2. Plug in all cell phones and communication devices, laptop computers, etc that need recharging so they’ll be fully charged if you lose power. Don’t do this if a storm is already on you and lightning is occurring.
3. Turn your fridge and freezer to their lowest settings. Your food will stay cold longer if power is lost.
4. Set your AC or heat to cooler or warmer settings than normal. This will keep your interior temperature comfortable longer should you lose power. (Barring any destruction of course.)
5. Working from the outside-in, bring in any outside pets or animals.
6. Next, secure loose items like patio furniture, your grill, etc., that can turn into projectiles in high winds.
7. Move vehicles under protective shelters or in the garage to protect them from hail, falling limbs, debris, etc. If covered shelter isn’t available, secure your vehicle to any in-ground anchor points you might have (a common practice in tornado-prone areas). This can help protect your vehicle from being picked up and flipped in high winds.
8. Close the doors and windows on any out-buildings and your garage. Anything you can do to keep wind from entering a structure, the better off that structure is.
9. If you own an electric generator, make sure it’s fueled, ready, and protected.
10. Close any storm shutters that require closure from the outside.
11. Close, lock, and deadbolt all exterior doors. Deadbolting the door helps keep strong winds from forcing it open.
12. Close and lock all windows from the inside and close the blinds and draw the curtains (provides limited reduction of flying glass if windows are broken).
13. Close (but don’t lock) interior doors to reduce air flow if a window breaks or exterior door gives way.
14. Prep your safe area (an area you should have chosen and preferably reinforced long before now) by bringing in any last minute protective items you might need. For example, if your kids wear helmets when they ride bikes, bring in the helmets. If your plan is to lie in the bath tub, you might bring in a small mattress to lay on top of you.
15. Stock your safe area. Make sure you have a battery powered radio, some water, snacks, your first aid kit, and most importantly, some signaling devices such as a couple of flashlights, a good whistle, and preferably, an air horn to signal rescuers if your house crumbles around your safe room.
16. Put your purse and similar personal items that you’re not actively carrying on you in the safe area. Also include important medications (insulin, etc.) or your fireproof safe with important documentation. (You might already have all this in your safe room if that’s where you store emergency items like your family’s “Bug Out Kit.”)
17. Corral the pets. Go ahead and put pets in their carriers (if possible) and put the carriers in the safe room. Having pets in carriers may provide a little extra feeling of security for them and it offers a little more protection. In addition, if rescuers have to come and help you out of the rubble, pets in carriers are far easier to manage.
18. Prep the kids. We mentioned pets first because they’re easier to put in place when things are calm and less likely to respond when things get hectic, so we got them out of the way first. With the kids, age is a big determining factor in how you get them ready. Babies should be put in their travel carriers with a diaper bag already placed in your safe area. Toddlers can be kept with you until time to go to shelter, and older children can help you with most everything you’ve done thus far.
19. By now, the storm front is probably rolling in. Disconnect all the electronics you had recharging and unplug any of your more expensive electrical equipment to protect it from lightning strikes. Put your laptop and other communication devices you’re not actually carrying on you in your safe area. Leave your radio on and have your phone handy to hear the tornado “Warning” (meaning one has actually touched down). Note: If your safe area is an external storm cellar, go ahead and settle in before a Warning is actually given.
20. When the warning is given (or if the storm is that bad and you want to do the smart thing) go to your safe area and “duck and cover” to protect you and your family members.
Remember, any time a Warning is given, get the kids and the pets to your safe area.
Though this might seem like an awful lot of detail, it’s actually a general guideline and only a small portion of the tornado preparedness we teach. It’s presented here so you can add some extra thought ahead of time to all the things you should consider in an active weather event where a tornado is a distinct possibility.
Read these steps now, learn them, walk through them a time or two, and customize them to suit your particular needs. When the time comes to put them into action, you’ll already know what to do and will breeze through a life-saving reaction like you’ve been practicing for it your whole life.
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Copyright 2011 – Paul Purcell. Permission is granted to share this article with others provided all portions remain attached an intact. For other preparedness articles visit www.disasterprep101.com .
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