All of Eastern Oklahoma is on a tornado watch tonight between 6-10 pm. Here are some Tornado Safety tips to keep you and your family safe.
Be Prepared In Advance
Unfortunately, safety cannot be guaranteed during a tornado, but there are precautions you can take to help keep yourself safe.
- Make sure you have an emergency kit that includes medications, non-perishable foods, water, batteries, a radio/tv, and a flashlight. Stay stocked up on medical supplies as well.
- Develop a tornado emergency plan for you and your family to follow. In the plan, identify “safe shelter” during a storm.
- Keep a list of emergency phone numbers and information
- Keep your children safe by educating them about tornados. Make sure they know what a tornado is, how to respond to warnings and tornado watches, and what they need to do when there is a tornado warning.
Pay Attention To Your Surroundings
If a tornado warning is in place, keep your family safe by paying close attention to the weather and the conditions in your area. Tornadoes can hit quickly and sometimes without warning – so know the signs of an incoming tornado. If you notice adverse weather conditions such as a dark or green colored sky, a large, dark, low-lying cloud, large hail, or a loud roar, take cover immediately.
Be Cautious Of Where You Take Shelter
Not all covered places are safe during a tornado. Keep these tips in mind so that you are safe as possible during a tornado:
- Mobile homes are not safe. Do not seek shelter in a mobile home.
- Do not try to outrun a tornado in a car. Tornados can change direction quickly. If you are in a car, find the nearest sturdy building to seek shelter.
- Seek shelter in a basement or an inside room with no windows. Do not seek shelter in upstairs rooms. Bathrooms closets and center hallways are good places to hide.
- Get underneath something durable like a table or workbench. Cover yourself with a thick blanket and cover your head.
Nobody can know how strong a tornado will be before it hits the ground. So stay tuned to your weather channels, pay attention to the weather and stay safe!
