Tornado Safety

Tornado Dangers

Tornadoes are one of nature's most sudden, dangerous and severe threats. Even straight-line winds from a severe thunderstorm can cause significant damage and put you and your home in danger. History has shown time and again that large thunderstorms can bring dangerous tornadoes capable of obliterating entire neighborhoods, buildings and residences in a matter of a few seconds. Tornadoes can strike instantly, carry with them 300 miles-per-hour wind speeds and sometimes be nearly invisible. Always remain in your shelter or safe room well past the sound of the high winds, severe rain or debris to ensure that the dangerous storm effects are past. The best defense against severe weather is to prepare for it well in advance and give yourself the information and tools necessary to be ready before it reaches you.

Make a plan

Have a planned escape route to your storm shelter or safe room. Practice with all family members so everyone is trained appropriately.
Make sure you have the right tools on hand including fresh drinking water, flashlights or battery powered lanterns with extra batteries and a portable weather radio.
Keep a fully charged mobile phone (or two) with you to keep your line of communication open.
Keep an Emergency Contact List on hand with all out-of-state family members, friends and neighbors.
Ensure that you have made plans for your pets in case a severe storm emergency arises.
Make sure you have a first-aid kit, medicine and prescription drugs on hand.
Keep a ready supply of fresh drinking water on hand in bottles or containers.
Keep a couple changes of clothes to change out of wet or damp clothing.
Package some non-perishable, packaged or canned foods, manual can opener, plastic utensils.
Know your local emergency contact numbers such as hospital, police and fire department.

Be Prepared

STEP ONE:
Stay abreast of all your local weather information. Radio, television and Internet are all handy tools for this but we recommend a battery powered weather radio as a backup. Should power go out, which it generally does in a severe storm, your NOAA weather radio will still operate and keep you informed of what to expect. Know the difference between a "tornado watch" and a "tornado warning." A "tornado watch" means conditions are right for severe weather formation and potentially tornadoes. If a "tornado watch" is issued, remain alert, stay tuned to your local weather and be ready to go to your shelter in the event of a warning. A "tornado warning" is issued when an actual tornado has been spotted or is visible through weather radar technology. If a "tornado warning" is issued, take your family and go to your shelter immediately.

STEP TWO:
Have a safe place to take shelter from the oncoming storm. An ATSA (American Storm Shelter Association) certified storm shelter or safe room is your safest bet. Manufacturers certified by ATSA have gone through rigorous 3rd party engineering evaluation and debris impact testing for all of their products certifying that they meet all of the standards set forth by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), ICC-500 (International Code Council) and their IBC (International Building Code). Texoma Storm Shelters is a Proud Member of the ATSA and all of our storm shelters and safe rooms are certified safe.

STEP THREE:
Check your shelter or safe room at least once every 3-6 months to be sure it is ready and stocked for you and your family if you need it. We recommend a good supply of bottled water, a flashlight or battery powered camping lantern with extra batteries for backup along with your weather radio. If you have small children, try and make your shelter as welcoming and comfortable as possible with soft places for the kids to sit or lay down and something they can do while waiting for the storm to pass.