Are You Ready for a Tornado?

Here’s what you can do to prepare for such an emergency

Prepare a Home Tornado Plan

Y Pick a place where family members
could gather if a tornado is headed
your way. It could be your basement
or, if there is no basement, a center
hallway, bathroom, or closet on
the lowest floor. Keep this place
uncluttered.

Y If you are ina high-rise building,
you may not have enough time to
go to the lowest floor. Pick a place
in a hallway in the center of the
building.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies

Kit containing—

Y First aid kit and essential
medications.

Y Canned food and can opener.

¥ At least three gallons of water
per person.

Y Protective clothing, bedding,
or sleeping bags.

Y Battery-powered radio, flashlight,
and extra batteries.

Y Special items for infant, elderly,
or disabled family members.

Y Written instructions on how to tum
off electricity, gas, and water if
authorities advise you to do so.
(Remember, you'll need a profes-
sional to turn natural gas service
back on.)

Conduct periodic tornado drills
so everyone remembers what
to do when a tornado is
approaching.

Stay tuned for storm warnings

¥ Listen to your local radio and
TV stations for updated storm
information.

v Know what a tornado WATCH
and WARNING means:

© A tornado WATCH means a

tornado is possible in your
area.

¢ A tornado WARNING means a
tomado has been sighted and
may be headed for your area.
Go to safety immediately.

v Tomado WATCHES and WARNINGS
are issued by county or parish.

When a tornado WATCH is

issued—

¥ Listen to local radio and TV
stations for further updates.

v Be alert to changing weather
conditions. Blowing debris or the
sound of an approaching tornado
may alert you. Many people say
it sounds like a freight train.

When a tornado WARNING

is issued—

¥ If you are inside, go to the safe
place you picked to protect your-
self from glass and other flying
objects. The tornado may be
approaching your area.

¥ If you are outside, hurry to the
basement of a nearby sturdy
building or lie flat in a ditch
or low-lying area.

Y If you are in a car or mobile
home, get out immediately and
head for safety (as above).

After the tornado passes—

¥ Watch out for fallen power lines
and stay out of the damaged area.

Y Listen to the radio for information
and instructions.

Y Use a flashlight to inspect your
home for damage.

Y Do not use candles at any time.


——

Are You Ready for ay WC)

a Tornado? aren

S

Forget the notion that “twisters” only happen in the Midwest. Tornadoes have been reported in every state. And
although they generally occur during spring and summer, they can happen any time of the year.

With winds swirling at 200 miles an hour or more, a tornado can destroy just about anything in its path. Generally,
there are weather signs and warnings that will alert you to take precautions.

Be prepared by having various family members do each of the items on the checklist below. Then get together to
discuss and finalize your Family Disaster Plan.

Pick a safe place in your home where family members could gather during a tornado. (If you
have a basement, make it your safe place. If you do not have a basement, consider an interior
hallway or room on the lowest floor.) Make sure there are no windows or glass doors in the
area. Keep this place uncluttered.

Basement: [|] Yes [] No

If yes, basement is your safe place.
If no (or if you are in a high-rise building), choose another safe place.

Location of safe place:

If you live in a mobile home, choose another safe place in a nearby sturdy building.
(If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your safe place.)

Location of safe place:

Put together a Disaster Supplies Kit in a clearly labeled, easy-to-grab container.
Location of Disaster Supplies Kit:

Write instructions on how to turn off your home’s electricity, water, and gas if advised to do
so by local authorities. (A professional must turn gas service back on.)

Instructions written:

(date)

Make sure all family members know the name of the county or parish where you live or
are traveling, because tornado WATCHES and WARNINGS are issued for county or parish.

Name of county/parish where you live:

Name of county/parish where you are traveling:

Discuss with your family what you will do when a tornado WATCH or WARNING is issued.

And remember . . . when a tornado, earthquake, flood, hurricane, or other emergency happens in your community,
you can count on your local American Red Cross chapter to be there to help you and your family. Your Red Cross is
not a government agency and depends on contributions of your time, money, and blood.

For more information, contact your local Red Cross chapter, National Weather Service office, or emergency
management agency. You can also visit these Web sites:

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org Your local contact is:
National Weather Service: www.nws.noaa.gov
Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov

‘Stock No. NOAA PA 92057
or

ARC 4457

Rev. July 1998