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Storm Shelters and Best Places to be During a Tornado
Storm Shelters and Best Places to be During a Tornado
By Steve Miers
Although tornado season is typically during the spring months, any of you who live in tornado alley can attest to the fact that tornadoes can show up any time of the year. They do not discriminate against the cold months of the year. We all know that a very warm day followed by a cold front spells out the possibility of severe thunderstorms or tornadoes.
For your safety and the safety of your family, you should have a plan for a designated safe spot in your house in the event of a tornado. There are a number of things that you need to know before you designate a place as well as a number of things that would be helpful to keep in your designated spot just incase.
One of the safest places to be when a tornado hits is in a storm cellar. You can purchase a pre-manufactured storm shelter and either install it yourself or have it professionally installed. You can also build your own storm shelter. If you choose to do this it is important that you research the appropriate materials to use in order for the shelter to be effective. You can have storm shelters built into your home or in the ground near your home. They also come in various sizes, so you need to think about the size and needs of your family. If you live in a trailer, it is particularly important that you have a storm shelter or know of a community shelter in the area where you can take cover.
If you don't have a storm shelter, there are certain places in your home that are safer than others. A basement or room that is underground and preferably without windows is the next best thing to a reinforced shelter. If there are windows in the basement, cover them with plastic if you have time and stay away from them.
If there is no basement in your home, you should go to an interior room that is on the lowest level of the home. A closet or bathroom is best. You can also go to an interior hallway in a building on the lowest level. You should stay away from windows, exterior walls and doorways. Stay out of large rooms such as auditoriums, the middle of the grocery store or large hallways. The smaller the room or hallway the better. If there is a heavy piece of furniture in the room, take cover under it.
Protect your head and body with pillows, blankets or mattresses. If you have small children or pets with you, make sure they are well protected as well. Keep a flashlight and a cell phone with you, preferable in your pocket. That way if you are trapped you can call someone for help and you will have a flashlight which will help you be found. A battery powered radio or television is also good to keep in your safe place to keep yourself informed.
Remember to never try to outrun a tornado. Do not stand by a window or out on the porch and try to video it. Get to your storm shelter or safe place immediately if you are under a tornado warning. If you follow these tips and other tips online, you can maximize your chances of being safe during a tornado.
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Pack a Tornado Survival Kit Now
Pack a Tornado Survival Kit Now
By Jim Porterfield
Unlike hurricanes, where we often have days to get ready, tornadoes can develop in just minutes when conditions are right.
When the tornado warning sirens sound you won't have time to "get prepared." You will want to have your tornado survival preparations all done in advance so you can head straight for your shelter.
The most important thing you can do in advance of a tornado is to identify where you will wait out the storm. When you have identified the safest place in your home, put together a "twister kit" that you can store right there. If you have a basic tornado bag stored in your safe place you won't have to take precious time gathering necessary supplies before you take cover. This could save your life if a fast-moving tornado is headed in your direction.
If you have one, a backpack makes an excellent container for your emergency supplies. If you don't have a backpack, a nylon duffel with sturdy handles will work.
What You Should Pack in Your Tornado Survival Kit
1. Light. If a tornado strikes you should count on losing electricity. Waiting out a storm in a pitch black room is much more frightening, especially for children. In the aftermath, even if your home is untouched, you might find yourself without power. You will need light.
Pack a flashlight for each member of the family. Store the batteries separately in sealed plastic bags so they will be fresh when you need them. Throw in a few bendable light sticks, which can glow for hours, and you will have illumination when and where you need it. Stock up on these at Halloween. They can sometimes be hard to find at other times of the year.
If your home or neighborhood has been struck you should assume that gas lines have been broken. It is not safe to use anything powered by a flame for light or heat. Avoid candles or lanterns.
2. A small portable emergency weather radio. You may not be able to hear storm warnings in your safe room, and you will certainly want to know when the danger has passed. Store batteries separately. A crank emergency weather radio that doesn't require any other power source is always a good choice.
3. Blankets for warmth and protection from flying glass and debris. Pack one or two blankets large enough to cover everyone.
4. Water. One or two small bottles of water for each person. Avoid large gallon containers as they are too hard to pack and too heavy to carry. Smaller bottles can be tucked into nooks and crannies in your backpack or tote. If you have pets, pack one additional bottle of water for each along with a small collapsible cup they can drink from.
5. Emergency food. You will want enough food to keep you and your loved ones going for 24 hours. Granola bars, crackers, peanut butter, dried fruit, cookies, hard candy, and don't forget bottles and formula if you have a baby. Throw in a foil packet of pet food for each animal. Avoid canned goods as they are heavy. In an emergency you should be more interested in concentrated calories and energy than with vitamins and a balanced diet.
6. A mini first aid kit with several sizes of adhesive bandages, gauze pads, a long roll of gauze, antibacterial ointment and a small bottle of over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
7. A quality all-in-one tool that has a screwdriver, pliers, a wire cutter and a sharp blade.
8. An old pair of shoes for each member of the family. If you are awakened in the middle of the night you may not have time to look for and put on shoes. If your home is struck, you do not want to walk through debris without foot protection.
9. A lightweight water-resistant windbreaker with a hood for each family member. Tornadoes are almost always accompanied by heavy rain. If your shelter is breached you will want rain protection that will also help to keep you warm.
10. A very loud whistle. Should your home be seriously damaged, blowing a loud whistle will help alert rescue workers to your location.
Store your emergency tornado bag in your safe area in such a way that you can locate it quickly and easily in the dark. Next to your bag store a fire extinguisher that you know how to use. Fires are a high risk after a tornado because of ruptured gas lines. You do not want to be trapped in a safe room without the means to extinguish a fire.
If you hear the "take cover" warning, grab your children, your pets, and your cell phone in that order, and take cover in your safe area until you know that it is definitely safe to come out. Do not make the mistake of going outside or to a window to see if the warning is "real."
When you live in hurricane or tornado country you always want to be prepared with a reliable portable weather radio. If you can only choose one, make it a crank radio so it will work without a power source or batteries.
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