Tornadoes

Think about tornado safety with these tornado protection tips
With winds blowing up to 300 mph, a tornado that touches ground can destroy everything in its path for up to 50 miles. They strike quickly with little warning, so it's important to consider these tornado preparation tips now to protect your family and your home from disaster.

Here are a few facts about tornadoes:

They typically strike between March and August
They can appear transparent until they pick up dust and debris
They often have the following warning signs:
Dark, often greenish, sky
Large hail
A large, dark, low-lying cloud
A loud roar, similar to a freight train
Your home
Although no house can withstand a direct hit from a severe tornado, good construction will help your home survive if it's on the fringe of the tornado's path. Consider the following tornado protection tips to strengthen your home:

Install impact-resistant window systems.
Make certain your doors have at least three hinges and a deadbolt security lock with a bolt at least 1 inch long.
Install permanent wood or metal stiffeners on your garage door, or contact the door manufacturer for information on temporary supports you can attach and remove easily when severe weather threatens.
Make sure that both your roof covering and the sheathing it attaches to will resist high winds.
Replace landscaping materials such as gravel and rock with mulch such as shredded bark.
Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed, paying particular attention to weak branches that could fall on your home.
Before the storm
If weather conditions are right for a tornado in your area, take these tornado safety precautions:

During a tornado warning, your family's safety is your first priority. Get everyone to shelter. If you have a basement, move everyone there immediately; otherwise, find a closet, a small room or a hallway away from windows. The more walls between you and the outside, the better.
Lean a mattress against the wall of the room you're in.
Don't open your windows. Keep the wind and rain outside.
Turn off all utilities.
If you own a mobile home, find shelter elsewhere.
If you are in your vehicle when a tornado hits, get out and try to find shelter inside a sturdy building. A ditch can provide shelter if nothing else is near
Don't take shelter under a bridge or overpass because these structures could be destroyed.
If authorities have announced a tornado watch (not a warning), move anything in your yard that may become flying debris inside your house or garage.
This tornado safety information is meant to help you make decisions that may reduce your risk. Of course, we can't note every possible risk, and we can't guarantee that these tips will work for you. However, we hope that if you use some of them, you'll better protect your family and yourself.