Tornado preps

Everyone who lives [or works] together should sit down and discuss the “what IF” of the possibility- write your plan down noting everyone’s concerns.

1. Keep alert to the weather conditions [and general situational awareness] 2 take shelter right away when you hear a tornado warning OR see a funnel cloud headed your way. 3. find a small room with no windows and a strong door such as a closet. The close walls will be stronger than rooms with support walls farther apart.

At home or at work; avoid windows. The safest places are interior rooms or hallway in the lowest floor of the structure like a basement IF available.

IF are in a mobile home; get out! Have prior arrangements with neighbors who have appropriate shelter. If necessary go to a ditch, ravine with your kit as below. Don’t try to shelter under the mobile home even if it has tie downs. Don’t shelter under a bridge as the wind will speed up there.

IF you are in a vehicle behave as if you were in the mobile home. Don’t TRY to outrun it.

Stock the following items in the safe area:
A whistle
box of crayons
A small radio, preferably a self-powered radio
A flashlight, preferably a self-powered flashlight
A medium sized pack of batteries – do not store batteries in the devices
Peanut butter crackers ect
Two blankets per person
A land line phone
A few water bottles
A first aid kit (Band-Aids, cloth, ect.)
Bike helmet with face mask like for hockey or football AND safety glasses
Shoes and leather work gloves
A charger for your cell phone [consider installing a power outlet in that area or per-run an extension cord to power your cell phone, radio and a LED light]
Medicines for at least a few days
Anything you may need for pets
Anything you may need for children
A multipurpose pry bar
BRING your BOB [bug out bag] with you.
Bring your keys and purse/wallet with you.
Store your documents safely in the (interior) shelter, along with a recent copy of one of your utility bills. If your neighborhood is wiped out, you’ll need to prove to authorities that you live there.
On a bulletin board AT the front door have a note of where your safe area is and how many people are sheltering so that the rescue crew can find you easier.