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Disaster Preparedness: Tornado Disaster Plan

Tornado Disaster Plan

Master Disaster Checklist

If you want to keep your property, family, pets, and business safe during natural disasters, it’s important to be prepared. This master checklist gives you a good foundation for what to do, what to have, and what to plan for.

  • Secure Contact Information: Make sure you have a printed out copy as the power may be out and you might not have access to your computer or documents. Include names and telephone numbers, as well as out-of-town friends or family who might be able to help you. It’s important to have an out-of-town friend listed because your friends who live in your town might not be able to help you if a disaster affected them, too. Additionally, prearrange a nearby meet-up place after the emergency. It could be the local high school, a relative’s home, or a grocery store.
  • Have a Plan: Make sure that all of your family knows about your disaster plan (escape routes, where the emergency kit is stored, who to contact, and what to do in case of a natural disaster).
    • Identify a Safe Room: Point out which room is the safest room in your home. This should be an interior room without windows, if possible (maybe a closet or a bathroom). This is the place your family should seek shelter when storm warnings are issued.
  • Stay Informed: Make sure that you have a portable radio with fully charged batteries so that you can get the latest up-to-date information about the disaster. If you are in the path of the disaster, go to your pre-designated shelter area immediately.
  • Take Photos/Video of Your Property: If you have an inventory of your valuables and possessions you are likely to be able to claim up to 20% more insurance than if you don’t. Taking photos and videos with your cell phone is an easy way to document your items. Be sure to upload all the images to secure cloud backup and not just store on your property.
  • Charge Electronic Devices: During a disaster, you may lose power. Ensure your cell phone is fully charged, along with other electronic devices like tablets and laptop computers. Also, think about purchasing a solar-powered backup charging device.
  • Get Cash: When the power goes out, ATM machines won’t work. Get plenty of one dollar bills because not many people will have change for twenty and hundred dollar bills. Try to aim for ones, fives, and tens.
  • Fill Up on Gas: Fill your gas tank. When the power goes out, gas pumps won’t work.
  • Disaster Supplies Kit: A disaster supplies kit is essential to keeping you and your family safe. It should include non-perishable food, water, medical supplies, clothes, pet food and supplies, medications, batteries, flashlights, etc. Consider the following list: 
    • Flashlight
    • Batteries
    • First Aid Kits: For $20, you can have medical supply basics — all in one place — and ready to use. Minor as well as major injuries are possible during an earthquake and it’s possible that emergency services will be overwhelmed, so having a first aid kit is essential.
    • Solar Cell Phone Charger: Solar powered charges start in the mid-$20 range and go up from there. The best selling Amazon solar charger is $60 and is fast with “industrial-strength PET polymer faced solar panels sewn into a rugged polyester canvas offer weather-resistant outdoor durability.” If the power goes out, you might have no other way to charge your phone.
    • Crank-Powered Radio: You can pay upwards of $100 for a decent crank radio, but you don’t have to spend that much. The best-selling Amazon crank radio is only $20!
    • Emergency Water Filter: There’s no need for an expensive filtration system. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter has 5,000 reviews and is only $20! The LifeStraw “removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites, and filters to 0.2 microns; surpasses EPA filter standards.”
    • Bottled Water (minimum of three gallons for each member of your family)
    • Battery-Powered Radio
    • Battery-Powered Lantern
    • Emergency Food Supply
    • Can Opener
    • Basic Tools (utility knife, pliers, wrench, tape, compass)
    • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, toilet paper)
    • Pencils and Paper
    • Pet Supplies (food, litter)
    • Rain Gear
    • Sleeping Bag
    • Change of Clothes
    • Plastic Garbage Bags
    • Face Masks
    • Gloves
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Cleaning Wipes
  • Have a “Go Bag”: Having an emergency bag packed with essentials (food, clothes, toiletries, cash, etc.) can save you time in a crisis. P.S. A little bit of toilet paper goes a long way…
  • Gather Your Important Papers: Keep all special papers and photographs in a watertight container or plastic bag. You know, all of those important things like bank account papers, birth certificates, property deeds, medical cards, social security cards, etc. as well as photos and important keepsakes which can never be replaced. During a disaster, they could all be ruined and washed away forever in one whoosh!
    • Identification (copy of driver’s license or passport)
    • Insurance Policies
    • Birth Certificates
    • Marriage Certificates
    • Proof of Residence (copy of lease, mortgage documents)
    • Deeds or Wills
    • Tax Returns
    • Social Security Cards
  • Plan for Your Pets: Many hotels and motels won’t accommodate your pets, so if your plan is to evacuate to a hotel, then you’ll need to find them a safe boarding kennels or cattery which is outside of the disaster’s impact zone. Be sure you have plenty of your pet’s preferred food and whatever medications they might need.
  • Refill Your Medications: Make sure that you have plenty of your prescription medicines on hand. If a disaster hits your area, the last thing you want to worry about is a medical emergency. 
  • Disaster Insurance: Check your insurance coverage as part of your disaster preparedness plan. Many home insurance policies do not cover hazards like flooding caused by hurricanes, for example. If you live in a disaster-prone area, consider getting insurance to cover damages.
  • Have a Plan for After the Disaster: After a disaster, get out of town until emergency services and law enforcement have gotten control of the situation. Unfortunately, like many other disaster situations, there are people who will try to take advantage of the chaos. It’s best to avoid being in the disaster zone until things are under control.

Is Your Family Ready for a Tornado?

Tornadoes can form throughout many months of the year and in numerous states. Is your family prepared and ready for a tornado?

For those people who live in Tornado Alley (most of the Midwest and Southeastern states) are used to having tornado drills and practice night evacuations, but if you have your own tornado disaster plan in place you’ve got an even better chance of not only getting out alive but also damage mitigation for your home and/or business.

Consider purchasing the following items to keep your family safe during a tornado:

Safety Item

Eton FRX3+ Emergency NOAA Weather Radio

9.2

This emergency radio is designed to be used during disasters and emergencies. It has several features, including a rechargeable battery, a solar panel, and a hand turbine power generator.

Home Safety

SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe Box

9

The SentrySafe safe features a flush-mounted design that is both waterproof and fire-resistant, ensuring long-lasting use and protection for your valuable items. It also comes equipped with a privacy key lock

Home Safety

Weather Stripping Door Seal (33 Feet)

8.4

This product is an extra-long window insulation tape that comes in two widths: 1 inch and 1.4 inches, with a total length of 33 feet, which is enough to seal gaps around your doors and windows. It is made from high-grade silicone, which is flexible, durable, and easily cut as needed.

 

Tornado Disaster Plan

Having a disaster plan in place can help keep you, your family, and your property safe. Below are some things to consider and discuss with your family before a tornado hits.

  1. Have an Escape Route: Your safest bet during a tornado is to lay low. The basement is often the best option, although if you don’t have a basement, the most interior room of your home is the next best option. Make sure that all members of the family know where to go immediately if there is a tornado in your area. If the tornado hits when you’re outside, find a safe building or a ditch and protect your head with your arms.
  2. Stay Informed: Make sure that you have a portable radio with fully charged batteries so that you can get the latest up-to-date information about the disaster. If you are in the path of the tornado, go to your pre-designated shelter area immediately.
  3. Have a Disaster Kit: Keep a disaster kit ready at all times. Make sure you include everything you could possibly need during a tornado disaster like non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, a first aid kit, prescription medicines, and other essentials.
  4. Clean Up Outside: Ensure that all trash cans, lawn furniture, kids toys, etc. are stored away safely or otherwise tied down. Remove any dead limbs from trees and shrubs as they can be ripped off by a tornado and turned into flying projectiles.
  5. Contact Your Family: Have a designated member of your family contact the rest of the family and friends living in the danger zone in case of a tornado. Tornadoes typically arrive late in the afternoon or during the early evening, but they can also strike in the middle of the night so it’s important that you keep members of your extended family informed as part of your tornado disaster plan checklist.

 

FEMA Tornado Recommendations

FEMA Tornado Recommendations