Tornadoes: Ultimate Guide To Preparing For And Surviving A Tornado
Updated: Jan 20
Stay informed! Keep abreast of the most current news and information about tornadoes, including local evacuation routes and emergency procedures. Remember to stay calm and act quickly. In the event of a tornado, it’s important to remain calm and follow the applicable safety procedures to cover yourself and your loved ones. Sign up for emergency alerts from local authorities, and download tornado-related apps to your phone.
Exercise tornado safety at school or work. If you spend a significant amount of time in a school or workplace, make sure you know the emergency procedures and evacuation routes in case of a tornado.
Prepare an emergency plan for the senior or impaired. If you have senior or impaired family members or friends, make sure they have an emergency plan in place. This may include arranging for someone to check on them in case of an emergency or making sure they have a way to communicate emergency services.
Be apprehensive of implicit secondary hazards. Tornadoes can cause secondary hazards like fires, gas leaks, and dangerous chemical spills. Be knowledgeable of the implicit pitfalls and know how to respond.
Prepare for long-term utility outages. I cannot stress this enough! In the event of a tornado, utility outages can last for several days. Make sure you have enough non-perishable survival food and water to last for at least a week and have a provisory power source such as a portable/mobile generator or portable/mobile solar power.
Learn how to properly shut off your appliances, such as your cook stove or roaster, in case of an emergency. This can help prevent fires caused by broken gas lines or electrical lines.
Formulate a Business Continuity Plan (BCP). A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is a set of procedures and guidelines that help associations prepare for and respond to dislocations, such as a tornado. This plan will help your business to minimize damage and return to normal.
Have 2 emergency supply kits! (1 for your home or business, and another one inside your automobile) so you’re prepared in case of natural disasters. Having 2 well-designed emergency supply kits can help you and your loved ones survive a tornado. Your emergency supply kits should include the basics, such as non-perishable survival food, bottled water, first-aid inventories, flashlights (battery-powered AND USB-charged), a battery-powered and/or hand crank radio, and extra batteries. Keep both of your emergency kits up-to-date. Make sure your emergency supply kits are streamlined and that all the particulars are in good condition at all times.
Be prepared to shelter in place. There may be times when it isn’t safe to leave your home or other structure. Be prepared to shelter in place by having enough food, water, and other survival necessities to last for many days. Don't forget to have a good supply of non-perishable survival food that lasts for up to ten years or more.
Learn about the specific tornado hazards in your area. Different areas have different pitfalls when it comes to tornadoes. It’s important to know about the specific hazards in your area and how to prepare for them. Is your area more prone to tornado activity? Make sure you know the specifics so you can prepare for any hazards. Check for hazards in your neighborhood. Look for implicit hazards in your neighborhood such as overhanging power lines, large trees that could fall, and large structures that could be a threat during a tornado. Make sure to report to the applicable authorities, if you notice any implicit hazards. Understand tornadoes can have long-lasting impacts on communities. Therefore, you should be prepared for possible outgrowths, such as job loss, power outages, or relegation.
Learn about emergency response procedures. Knowing the emergency response procedures in your area can give you a better idea of how to respond in the event of a tornado. Find out the emergency response procedures in your workplace and/or school and familiarize yourself with them. Get familiar with local emergency shelters. Learn about the emergency harbors in your area and their locales, so that you know where to go in case of evacuation.
Formulate an emergency plan with your family or roommates on how to communicate and where to meet up if you get separated. Identify safe places in your home, work, and community where you can take sanctum during a tornado.
Share in tornado drills. It’s important to exercise what you would do in the event of a tornado so that you’ll be more prepared if one occurs. Numerous seminaries and workplaces conduct tornado drills, so take part in them and encourage your family and friends to do the same.
Have an emergency communication plan in place to communicate with loved ones after a tornado. Note: You would be wise to have a set of emergency 2-way hand-held radios! Make sure everyone knows how to get in touch with each other if separated. In the event of a tornado, try to communicate with loved ones as soon as possible to let them know that you’re safe. Keep your emergency contact list up-to-date and make sure that everyone knows how to reach each other in case of an emergency. Being prepared for a tornado is crucial to protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Know emergency phone numbers such as Fire Department and the sanatorium, in case you need them. Remember, it’s important to stay calm and act quickly in the event of a tornado. Keep your emergency communication devices and phone numbers such as the police, fire department, and local emergency management office in a fluently accessible place. You may need to call them in case of an emergency. In addition, keep emergency contact information on your person. Consider keeping a card or note with emergency contact information in your wallet or purse at all times, in case you come separated from your phone or other means of communication during a tornado. It’s important to remember tornadoes can be sudden and at any time. Have 2 backup phone chargers such as mobile USB power banks. Keep these on hand, in case the power goes out and you need to charge your phone for emergency use.
Keep a battery-powered flashlight with fresh batteries (and/or a USB-style flashlight) at your bedside table. In case of a tornado in the middle of the night, you will want to be able to see where you are going as you try to get to safety.
Get involved in Community Preparedness Initiatives. Volunteering with local emergency operation agencies or sharing in disaster response training programs. Being involved in the community can be an effective way to stay informed and help prepare yourself and others in case of a tornado. Remember, being prepared is crucial to surviving a tornado. Make a plan, learn the safety procedures, and keep emergency inventories on hand. Keep in mind that tornadoes can be at any time, so it’s important to be prepared at all times.
Be familiar with your community’s warning systems. Know the difference between a tornado WATCH and a tornado WARNING. A tornado watch is issued when the eventuality of a tornado exists in a certain area, while a warning is issued when a tornado has begun and could affect a certain area. Know how you’ll be advised, and be aware of the recommended conduct to take, If a warning is issued.
Get to an underground shelter, basement, storm cellar, or safe room. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative. Always make sure you have your emergency supplies such as your flashlight and first aid kit nearby.
Always have an emergency kit in your home and vehicle. At the bare minimum, you should have survival food, bottled water, and important documents. Also, make sure you have all of your medications.
You should also have water purification tablets, and a water filter (see my article on how to purify your water), and make sure you have a portable mobile stove.
Always have emergency cash on hand. In the event of a tornado, many ATM’s and banks may not be accessible after it has come and gone.
Learn First-Aid and CPR. Knowing introductory First-Aid and CPR can help you to help yourself and others during and after a tornado. Take a First-Aid class and consider getting certified in CPR.
Understand how to triage injuries. If you are trained in first-aid, you may be suitable to help those who are injured in a tornado. Learn about triage, the process of prioritizing medical care for those who need it most, so you can help in caring for extremities. You should have a Triage Kit as part of your First-Aid Kit.
Learn introductory sign language in case you need to communicate with deaf or hearing-impaired individuals during an emergency. You can learn this very easily and quickly by having one of these simple books.
Seek professional help if needed. After a tornado, if you or a loved one needs internal health support, seek professional help. Trauma from a tornado can trigger anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If you are driving and a tornado is approaching, stay in your vehicle, secured in your seat belt, and put your head down below the window–covering it with your hands or a blanket if you have one. Or, if you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Note: If you live in a part of the country where tornadoes are known to be an issue, you should always have a grab-and-go bag at the ready. This means you should always have one at home, and another one that stays in your vehicle with your emergency roadside kit. Keep your grab-and-go bag packed with survival necessities such as a first-aid kit, basic survival tools, a change of clothes, toiletries, important documents, and emergency cash ready in case you need to evacuate quickly. Lots of excellent go-bag kits and other survival necessities right here.
Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity. Gas leaks can cause fires and explosions, so it’s important to know how to turn off the gas in your home. Also, if water lines break, it’s important to know how to turn off the water to your home. And, to help prevent electrical fires, know how to turn off the electricity in your home.
Review your insurance coverage to make sure you have adequate protection for tornado damage.
Have a disaster plan for your pets. Your pets can be affected by tornadoes just like people, and it’s important to have a plan in place for how to care for them in the event of a disaster. Make sure that your pets are microchipped and have identification markers on them, and consider keeping a supply of food, water, and any other needed specifics on hand.
Identify any potential hazards in your home or yard that could become dangerous during a tornado, such as trees or loose debris, and take steps to remove them or secure them.
Make sure you have a dependable fire extinguisher. A tornado can cause fires, and having a fire extinguisher at the ready can help to put out a fire before it spreads. Make sure your fire extinguisher is in working order and everyone in your household and workplace knows how to use it.
Secure your valuables. If you live in an area prone to tornadoes, it’s a good idea to secure your valuables, such as important documents, artifacts, etc. Consider using tornado-resistant strongboxes or storehouse holders such as some of these, to help protect them.
Check for hazards in your workplace. If you spend a significant amount of time at work, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the emergency procedures and safest places to be during a tornado.
Have an emergency communication plan in place with family and friends, including a designated meeting place in case you get separated during the storm. Consider getting a good set of 2-way radios in case your cell and/or landline connections stop working.
Practice regular tornado drills with your family so that everyone knows what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.
Be aware of the weather forecast and pay attention to any tornado watches or warnings issued by the National Weather Service.
If you are at school or work, know the emergency evacuation procedures and where the designated shelter areas are located.
Keep a supply of non-perishable food and water on hand, as well as a manual can opener, in case you are without power for an extended period of time.
After a tornado, be apprehensive of implicit hazards such as broken glass, damaged structures, and fallen power lines. Avoid these hazards and do not attempt to enter a damaged structure unless it’s necessary.
Remember to stay informed by tuning into local news and weather updates, as well as following your local emergency management agency on social media.
Lastly, I strongly advise you to consider looking at my Survival Gear page as that gear will massively increase your chances of survival if you know how to use them properly.
In conclusion, tornadoes can be without warning and it’s important to be prepared at all times. It’s important to keep in mind that being prepared is crucial to survival.
Thank you for reading. Stay knowledgeable, prepared, and safe!
