Tornadoes - Prepare NOW

9/7/2018 (Permalink)

Preparing Before a Tornado Hits Your Area

• Know your area's tornado risk. In the U.S., the Midwest and the Southeast have a greater risk for tornadoes.
• Know the signs of a tornado, including a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud; an approaching cloud of debris; or a loud roar - similar to a freight train.
• Sign up for your community's warning system. The Emergency Alert System (ESA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. If your community has sirens, then become familiar with the warning tone.
• Pay attention to weather reports. Meteorologists can predict when conditions might be right for a tornado.
• Identify and practice going to a safe shelter in the event of high winds, such a safe room built using FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
• Consider construction your own sage room that meets FEMA or ICC 500 standards.