How to Prepare Your Home for a Tornado

The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports that 1,000 tornadoes strike the United States each year, with winds reaching up to 300 miles per hour.

Things You'll Need

• Candle Pantry
• Waterproof Matches
• Battery Radios
• Waterproof Boxes For Valuables
• Canned Foods
• First Aid Kits
• Can Openers
• Cellular Phone Batteries
• Cellular Phone Covers/carrying Cases
• Cellular Phone Minutes
• Cellular Phone Services
• Cellular Phones

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Instructions

• 1

  Understand the danger involved and take it seriously. The worst tornado ever to hit the nation killed 606 people in Illinois in 1925.

• 2

  The safest place to be when a tornado hits is inside.

• 3

  Identify a safe spot in your house where you can take cover if you need to. Basements are a good choice because they are below ground. Other options include closets, bathrooms or hallways on the first floor, as long as they are away from windows.

• 4

  Make you sure you have insurance for your home.

• 5

  During a tornado watch, store your car in a garage or underneath a carport to protect it from hail or flying debris.

• 6

  Bring outdoor furniture and yard equipment into the garage or house so it does not get blown around in the heavy winds and injure someone.

• 7

  Find out what kind of tornado warning signals are used in your community and what they mean.

• 8

  Practice a tornado drill with your family so you can see how you will respond if a tornado warning is issued.

• 9

  Educate an existing neighborhood group about safety procedures and set up a plan to alert senior citizens in case of a warning. Or start a new group with your neighbors.

• 10

  Prepare supplies in a waterproof container for an emergency, including candles, matches and a battery-operated radio.

• 11

  Order a free copy of a booklet called "Taking Shelter from the Storm" from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or view it online at www.fema.gov/mit/tsfs01.htm.

• 12

  Many injuries or deaths resulting from tornadoes occur when buildings collapse. If you are building a new house or remodeling, include a "safe room" - a room built below ground out of reinforced concrete or wood and steel walls that are anchored by a concrete slab foundation or floor.