How To Be Prepared In Case of a Tornado

Being prepared for natural disasters are very important because these disasters dramatically disrupt communities by destroying schools, homes, and businesses. Tornado and high winds are some of the most destructive forces of nature, and there is no state in the USA that isn't at risk. Knowing what to do to prepare our family and property for severe weather can be the difference between life and death. As the nation’s largest property insurer, State Farm wants to make sure we are prepared for the destructive and potentially deadly force of a tornado with the tips below.

Preparing Our Home

• Strengthen the garage door because it can be vulnerable during high winds. A windowless door with vertical bracing is the best option.
• If you’ve heard you should open windows during a tornado to equalize pressure, you’ve heard wrong! Instead, investigate systems that clip plywood to your windows without nailing.
• Maintain trees and shrubbery by removing weak branches and eliminate trees that could fall on your home during a storm because these cause fatalities and severe structural damage.
• Store important documents such as birth certificates, wills, and certificates of ownership in a fire- and water-proof safe in a secure location away from your residence. In the event your home is damaged or destroyed, you will still be able to access vital documents.
• Create and maintain a home inventory to make sure you have the right insurance protection, and in the event of a loss, simplify the claims process.

Preparing Your Family for a Tornado

• Every member should be familiar with local severe weather warning system and know what to do when a tornado "watch" or "warning" is issued.
• Create and practice a plan of action for your family and choose a place for your family to meet if you get separated.
• Consider installing a safe room. If you do not have a safe room or a tornado shelter, you should identify what might be the safest area of your home or business during tornadoes. This is usually the basement or a small interior room without windows.

During a Tornado (Inside a Shelter)

• Head to the center of your home or basement, away from windows and preferably under something sturdy like a workbench or staircase or in a bathtub with a mattress over top of you.
• Get to the safest place possible, away from glass that can break and injure or kill you.
• Closing interior doors  provide more barriers between you and the storm. Don’t try to ride out a tornado in a manufactured home. Even manufactured homes with tie-downs overturn in these storms because they have light frames and offer winds a large surface area to push against.

During a Tornado (Outside with No Shelter)

• Never try to outrun a tornado. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter.
• If you can safely get lower than the level of the roadway, such as in a ditch, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
• Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.

Recovering from a Tornado

• The period following a natural disaster can be disorienting and dangerous. Below are a few tips that may help relieve some of the uncertainty and help you stay safe, secure your property, and begin the claims process in the aftermath of a major event. 
• Use your emergency water or boil tap water before drinking until you are told the water supply is safe. Food that came in contact with water may be contaminated and should be discarded.
• Visually inspect your home for structural damage and take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. For example, board up holes with plywood and cover leaks with plastic sheeting.
• Your insurer will require you to document any damage to your property and provide receipts for recovery-related expenses. Be sure to save all receipts for home repairs, vehicle towing and repairs, temporary housing, meals, and other living expenses.

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