Did you know that there were over 1,000 tornadoes in the USA in 2020? These happened primarily in April and May, and as we are entering spring, the number of tornadoes starts to increase.
These forces of nature can be devastating to communities, not just only through property damage, but through the loss of life and livelihoods.
It’s important, therefore, to know what to do during a tornado. Keep reading to learn what important actions you can take to keep yourself and your family safe.
Act Quickly
There isn’t much difference between knowing what to do during a tornado, and what to do during a tornado warning. The earlier you take action, the better your chances of remaining safe.
A tornado watch is an announcement made because conditions favor a tornado, whereas a warning means one has been indicated by radar or sighted.
It’s a bad idea to “wait and see”, as tornadoes can change speed, direction, or intensity without warning.
Get to Safety
If you are out and about, it’s an absolute priority to get somewhere safe. If it’s not possible to get home, find a sturdy building to take refuge in.
Homes built in areas with a high frequency of tornadoes are often built with Storm Shelters or safe rooms. If your home does not have a shelter or a safe room, it’s certainly something you should consider.
Don’t Leave Home
If you’re away from home and have responded quickly enough to the warning to make it home, don’t make a snap decision to leave, even if you think the tornado might be headed your way.
You’ve got a much better chance of staying safe if you’re at home – imagine leaving home in the car in an attempt to get away from a tornado, only for it to change course and intercept your route. You could be stuck in traffic with a tornado headed directly toward you. Stay home.
Be Prepared for the Aftermath
If you’ve made a quick journey home, or into a storm shelter/safe room if you were already home, you’ve done the right thing. But what about once the tornado has passed?
If unfortunately, the tornado has passed over your home and neighborhood, there will likely be debris and rubble everywhere outside. Water mains could be burst, causing flooding. The last thing you want is to be in your bathrobe and bare feet.
An option here is to have a change of clothes in your shelter. Hard shoes, a hard hat, and warm clothing will all go a long way in making sure you’re prepared the face the aftermath of the tornado.
Knowing What to Do During a Tornado Could Save Your Life
It’s no exaggeration to say that if you don’t know what to do during a tornado, you are putting yourself and your family in unnecessary danger.
Take these few pieces of advice about tornado safety, memorize them or write them down, and you can be sure to know how to act quickly and give yourself the best chance of avoiding harm
Check out some of the other areas of the blog for more information and advice on a wide range of topics.