We are all aware how tremendously damaging tornados can be, both to life and property. If you are in an area that experiences tornados, what steps can you take to protect yourself if you are at home? Here are a few suggestions:
As soon as you know there is a tornado in your area, take shelter immediately. Do not shelter in a room with many windows as these could easily shatter, covering you in dangerous glass shards and other types of debris.
Think ahead of time about the best place in your home to take shelter. For example, the best places to stay safe are interior rooms that do not have exterior walls. Exterior walls tend to have a lot more damage in a tornado than interior walls. The bathroom is usually a good place to shelter, this is because plumbing pipes and fixtures provide extra support to the walls and floor of the room. If there is a bathtub, get in it and cover yourself with a thick blanket.
Try not to take shelter in a place where the room above has heavy objects. Refrigerators or heavy furniture could fall through a floor that has been compromised by a tornado which would seriously injure anyone underneath.
If the weather forecast shows the potential for tornadic weather, make some extra preparations by removing mirrors and pictures from walls and moving furniture away from windows. Secure large furniture items such as cabinets and bookcases to the wall.
As a precaution, turn off your electricity and water at the mains.
Do you have a disaster supply kit? This is an important thing to get ready ahead of time. It should contain all that you might need in an emergency situation.
A storm shelter is something you may want to consider installing, especially if you live in an area that experiences a lot of tornado activity.
Tornados are erratic and terrifying, but we can help reduce some of the anxiety by having a plan of what to do to stay safe during one.
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