HOW TO PREPARE

  • Get a NOAA weather Radio with auto alert, for your county ONLY. Which you can pick up at Radio Shack. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY HOUSE.
  • Pick a shelter
  • Teach everyone in the family where to go in the case of a tornado. Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on tornadoes.
  • Teach everyone the difference between a tornado WATCH & WARNING, AND REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.
  • Learn tornado danger signs:
  • An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.
  • Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.
  • Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
  • Get a map, so you can follow storm movment.
  • Choose a friend or family member in another part of town to be the "check-in person" for every family member to call should they be separated during a storm. Or Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact.After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.
  • Have a practice tornado drill with your family, and pets at the beginning of each tornado season.
  • Make sure you have a emergency supply kit with the items listed below
  • Family Disaster Supply Kit  - Keep these items in backpacks in case your area is evacuated.
  • Essentials:
  • Battery-operated radio
  • Flashlight
  • Extra batteries (Do not include candles, which cause more fires after a disaster than anything else.)
  • Water: 3 gallons/person, minimum, in a food-grade, plastic container Additional water for sanitation, include pets.
  • Food: Minimum 3-day supply of non-perishable food that requires no refrigeration, or preparation, and little or no water, for example:
  • Ready to eat soups (not concentrated)
  • Canned vegetables
  • Canned fruits
  • Ready-to-eat canned meats ~Canned juice ~Quick energy snacks ~MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat)   First Aid Kit: (one for your home and one for each car) ~Scissors ~Sunscreen ~Thermometer ~Tweezers ~Needle ~Cleansing agent/soap ~Latex gloves (2 pairs) ~Tongue blades (2) ~Moistened towelettes ~Assorted sizes of safety pins ~2" sterile gauze pads (4-6) ~4" sterile gauze pads (4-6) ~2" sterile roller bandages (3 rolls) ~3" sterile roller bandages (3 rolls) ~Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant ~Triangular bandages (3) ~Medicine dropper ~Non-Prescription Drugs: ~Antacid (for stomach upset) ~Anti-diarrhea medication ~Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever ~Tools and Supplies: ~Whistle ~Aluminum foil ~Crowbar ~Heavy cotton rope ~Paper and pencil ~Plastic sheeting ~Needles, thread ~Signal flare ~Matches in a waterproof container ~Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils ~Pliers, screwdriver, hammer ~Cash or traveler's checks, change ~Plastic storage containers ~Non-electric can opener ~utility knife ~Tape, duct and plumber's tape or strap iron ~Sanitation: ~Disinfectant ~Plastic bucket with tight lid ~Feminine supplies ~Soap, liquid detergent ~Toilet paper, towelettes, paper towels ~Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses) ~Clothing and Bedding: ~One complete change of sturdy clothing and footwear (boots) per person ~Blankets or sleeping bags ~For Baby: ~Formula ~Diapers ~Bottles ~Medication ~Powdered milk ~For Pet: ~Food ~Non-tippable food and water containers ~Important Family Documents: ~Copy of will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds ~Copy of passports, social security cards, immunization records ~Record of credit card account numbers and companies ~Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates) ~ Record of bank account numbers ~Inventory of valuable household goods ~Important telephone numbers ~Family Medical Needs: ~Prescription drugs >>AFTER the tornado: ~Help injured or trapped persons ~Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergencyinformation. ~Stay out of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. ~Take pictures of the damage--both to the house and its contents--for insurance purposes. ~Give first aid when appropriate. Don't try to move the seriously injuredunless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help. ~Use the telephone only for emergency calls. ~Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the buildings if you smell gasor chemical fumes. This is a very serious issue if you have any questions about tornado preparedness please contact your local American Red Cross Agency and they can answer all the questions you may have.












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