Tornadoes can occur in many parts of our country, but the South is no stranger to this type of severe weather. There is one thing for sure: you can’t stop a tornado from happening, but you surely can take the steps necessary to keep yourself and others around you safe.
Know The Signs
Tornadoes usually strike quickly, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of the signs that could potentially lead to a tornado in your area. If you notice the sky has dark clouds with a green tint, heavy thunderstorms and wind, these are the conditions for a tornado to form. Tornados are not silent events, in most cases if a tornado forms and you’re in the area, you may hear a loud roar similar to a freight train. Being prepared and knowing the signs of when a tornado may form is critical to keep you and those around you safe. Signing up to receive the latest updates on weather can ultimately be a make-or-break situation in some cases. Stay aware of what’s happening by receiving public safety information, warnings and alerts directly to your phone before, during and after the storm. The Wireless Emergency Alert and the Emergency Alert System are some of the most common systems used to receive information. Hotlines are also available like the 2-1-1 Hotline. Call 2-1-1 for information about current locations of open shelters, post-disaster assistance, transportation and more.
Designate A Tornado Shelter Or Safe Room
Another critical step in planning effectively for a tornado is to prepare inside your home. Whether you’re renting an apartment, own your home or rent your home, there are precautionary steps for you to take. Designate a tornado shelter or safe room inside your home to help provide safety from injury due to winds or flying debris. Keep it stocked with supplies or an emergency kit to get you through the storm. During a tornado or as a tornado approaches, this is where you will seek shelter to protect yourself.
Prepare For Outages
Power outages are actually to be expected when a tornado rolls through. Tornadoes can happen at any time so be prepared to charge all of your electronic devices before a storm hits in the case of a situation where you do not have power for an extended period of time. Have flashlights, batteries, candles and matches on hand to use as emergency power sources once the power goes out. In some cases, power outages can last days and even weeks depending on the strength of the tornado you’ve experienced. Along with making sure you’re able to see during power outages, it’s just as important to avoid loose or dangling power lines or power poles that have been knocked over outside due to the storm.
Have an Emergency Kit
During and after a tornado, you may need supplies to keep yourself and others safe and surviving. In the unfortunate event that a tornado cuts off power and water supplies, your vehicle has taken on damage or your roads are blocked, it’s dire for you to have an emergency kit on hand during these treacherous times. Make sure to have an emergency supply of non-perishable foods and water stored to meet your needs, your pets needs and the needs of
others around you. Emergency medical supplies are recommended to have in the case of someone needing medical care from tornado-related injuries. Storing extra money in your emergency kit can come in handy if you need to buy anything during this time.
Prepare a Plan
In some cases, you may have no time to prepare for a tornado because it may already be where you are. That’s why it is so important to prepare a plan for what to do when a tornado strikes. You may not be able to eliminate any risks, but you are able to prepare yourself and those around you with practical steps once you hear those tornado sirens go off. Start with knowing what the tornado sirens sound like. If you’ve never experienced a tornado before, you might not know what to listen for. Make sure you and those around you understand the local siren warning system in your community. Along with listening to what you need to hear for, having a clearly defined plan of what to do and where to go will be critical during a stressful situation if something unexpected happens.
Preparing for a tornado can be a daunting task. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be with the proper precautions taken to help keep you and those around you safe. Windscape Apartment Homes is committed to care of all of our residents in our community during a tornado. Contact us today by calling (256) 772-7030 or visiting our website www.windscapeapartmenthomes.com.
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