Tornado Safety Tips - Be Prepared!

3/20/2018 (Permalink)

Stay Safe form a Tornado!

Tornadoes are one of nature’s most violent storms and can cause death, injury, and destruction within seconds.  Here a few tips from Ready.gov on how to protect yourself and your family at a time when every second counts.

Know your risk

What:

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground and is often—although not always—visible as a funnel cloud. Lightning and hail are common in thunderstorms that produce tornadoes. Tornadoes cause extensive damage to structures and disrupt transportation, power, water, gas, communications, and other services in its direct path and in neighboring areas. Related thunderstorms can cause heavy rains, flash flooding, and hail.

Where:

About 1,200 tornadoes hit the United States every year and every state is at risk.

When:

Tornadoes can strike in any season, but occur most often in the spring and summer months. They can occur at all hours of the day and night, but are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Tornado Facts:

The extent of destruction caused by tornadoes depends on the tornado’s intensity, size, path, time of day, and amount of time it is on the ground. Wind from tornadoes can reach more than 300 miles per hour, and damage paths can be more than 1 mile wide and 50 miles long. Wind from tornadoes can destroy buildings and trees, transform debris into deadly projectiles, and roll vehicles.

• They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
• They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
• Tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
• Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
• Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.

Know the Terms:

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a tornado hazard:

• Tornado Watch - Tornadoes are possible. When there is a Watch, move to be near enough to a shelter or sturdy building to be able to get there quickly in a few minutes if there is a Warning or if you see signs of a tornado approaching. Remain alert for approaching storms.

• Tornado Warning - A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

During a Tornado:

If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately!  Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so remember to protect your head.

Call SERVPRO of Gold Coast / Lincoln Park / Lakeview – 773-935-6750 if you experience storm damage.