Preparing for Tornado Season
Tornado season is coming: Here’s how to prepare
Back when we were kids, tornado season started in March or April when the weather warmed up and strong storms developed here in the south. But these days, tornadoes are happening earlier and earlier in the year. Already in January of 2023, seven people died in tornados and strong storms that swept across the south. With these changing weather patterns, it’s never too early to have a tornado preparedness plan in place for you and your family.
Tips for tornado preparedness
Tornadoes are notoriously unpredictable, like Jo says in the movie Twister “You’ve never seen it miss this house, and miss that house, and then come after you.” You can’t do much to protect your home from a tornado and related homeowners insurance claims from storm damage, but there are things you can do to keep your family safer in case of a storm.
- Know when a tornado is approaching
Our weather prediction technology has come a long way. Download an app on your phone that will give you real-time weather alerts based on your location. This is the best way to get advance notice of an approaching storm in case the power or internet goes out at your home.
Aside from getting alerts, the wisdom of the old timers can go a long way toward keeping you safe. Knowing the signs of a tornado-producing storm is key. Tornados can develop in seconds, so as soon as you see these signs of a tornado-producing storm, seek shelter immediately:
- A greenish sky
- Low-lying, large clouds
- Large hail
- High winds – or no wind at all
- A sudden, intense change in the temperature
- Hearing the tornado “roar” which has been described as sounding like a train coming
- Know where to go
A tornado warning has been issued in your area. Do you know where to go in your home to keep your family safe? You may have only minutes or even seconds to get to a safe place in your home, so you need to have a plan that everyone in your household knows by heart in case a tornado is headed your way.
Go to the lowest, most central location of your home. A basement is safest, but if you don’t have a basement, an interior room without windows is your best bet. This is often a bathroom or a closet. If you choose the bathroom, get into the tub for greater protection.
The most serious injuries from a tornado tend to come from falling or flying debris. If you can, cover yourself with a mattress, stay under a sturdy table, or even use blankets if that’s all you have available.
- Keep a disaster kit ready
In the event that your home is damaged or destroyed by a tornado, you’ll find having a disaster kit handy to handle what comes next after a storm.
Your disaster kit should include:
- One gallon of water per person in your household per day for three days
- Any daily prescriptions for the members of your family
- Cash
- Non-perishable food for three days
- Copies of any important paperwork
- Your homeowner’s insurance policy and contact info. Your homeowner’s insurance will be one of the first calls you make after a tornado if your home has been damaged.
- Cell phone chargers and power banks
Is your home adequately protected for tornado season?
Give Edwards Insurance Agency in South Carolina a call today. We’ll help you make sure your home has proper coverage so that, if a tornado damages your home, you’ll have what you need to put it back together again.
