According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm and touches down on the ground.
Tornadoes wreak havoc every single year, destroying property and taking lives. Therefore, you need a tornado emergency kit if you live in a tornado-prone area. A tornado kit will help keep you and your family safer and more comfortable in the event of a deadly tornado.
Keep reading to learn about what we include in our tornado preparedness kit checklist. And click here to download our complete survival guide, which includes a printable version of our tornado preparation checklist.
First, let’s go over a couple of terms. The difference between a tornado watch and a warning could mean your life. Therefore, it’s vital to know the difference between the two and to stay up to date with tornado alerts.
A tornado watch signifies that the current weather conditions for tornadoes are favorable. Typically, a tornado watch covers a large geographic area encompassing multiple cities, counties, and sometimes states. Tornado watches usually last for several hours.
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been spotted or indicated by local weather radar. When a tornado warning is activated, it is time to take action because there is now an imminent danger to your life and property.
What You Should Do Under a Tornado Warning |
|
If You Are Inside: |
If You Are Outside: |
Take shelter immediately in a safe structure |
Do not try to outrun the tornado with a vehicle. |
If you do not have access to a tornado shelter, go to a windowless room on the lowest floor |
Do not go under an overpass or bridge. |
Cover yourself with a mattress, sleeping bag, or blanket, and wear a helmet. |
Seek shelter in a low-lying ditch or ravine. |
In the event of a tornado warning, you must bug-in to a safe location. Most folks who live in tornado-prone areas may already have a prepped tornado shelter in the basement of their home.
Basements and storm cellars are by far the safest options. However, if you do not have access to either, the next best option is a windowless interior room on the lowest level of the building.
We recommend that you prep your bug-out location with a tornado preparedness kit containing a family emergency kit, water, and freeze-dried food among other emergency supplies.
During a tornado watch or warning, it is crucial to stay connected to important news and notifications.
We recommend doing so with NOAA Weather Radio. You can also monitor for important announcements using smartphone applications.
In the event that you, or someone in your family, becomes separated during a tornado warning, we recommend formulating a family communication plan ahead of time. A family emergency plan tells your family what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in case of an emergency.
If you live in a tornado-prone area, we recommend you take steps to prepare your home in the event of a tornado. Preventative measures to prepare your home can drastically reduce the damage your home experiences.
Besides taking preventative measures to prepare for tornadoes before they happen, it’s equally important to know what to do after a tornado has passed through your area.
You can never be too prepared for a tornado. It’s better to be safe than sorry. So if you live in a tornado-prone area, we cannot recommend enough that you prep a tornado kit to help you and yours survive more comfortably.
Every tornado kit will be different. Over time, you will figure out what works best for you and your family. However, here is a list of recommended supplies to pack into your tornado kit:
Tornados can come at unexpected times. Depending on the scenario, you may not be indoors when the tornado is on its way. If this is the case, you will need to know what to do if caught outdoors or in your high water vehicle during a tornado.
After a tornado weather event, the most important thing you can do is remain calm and alert. We recommend you continue listening for instructions and information from emergency first responders and local officials.
Besides that, here are a few more tips to help keep you safe after a tornado.
Tornado preparedness is no joke. A tornado emergency kit ready for when a tornado inevitably strikes will make all the difference. By following our tornado preparedness checklist, you can keep your family and property much safer and more comfortable.
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