Are You Prepared for Tornado Season?

What Should I Know?

A tornado can strike at any time of the year, but they are most popular March-May in the southern states, and summer months for the northern states. 

They are more likely to strike between 3:00pm-9:00pm, but can occur during any hour of the day. 

 

Tornadoes are categorized by the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The higher the number, the more damage is will probably occur. 

It is vital to know the difference between a tornado warning and a tornado watch. A tornado watch means that a storm is coming, and there is a possibility of a tornado. A warning means that there is already a tornado in the area. 

    What Should I Do During a Tornado?    

          

What Should I do After a Tornado?

How Do I Prepare?

1.     Have a plan before the storm strikes

2.     Have an emergency kit

3.     Know the dangers and signs for tornadoes

1.     Dark greenish skies

2.     Large hail

3.     Low clouds; especially if they are rotating

4.     Loud roar

5.     Any alerts being broad casted

4.     Have a list of your assets/valuables in case damage occurs to your property

Flooding: What You May or May Not Already Know

With the beauty of Springtime, the deadliness of floods come. The snow starts melting, and spring storms start coming.
Many places are already seeing the effects of these deadly floods.

Kauai, Hawaii is in a state of emergency, and dealing with mudslides because of their flash floods. Below are pictures that depict the damages that occurred.

Flooding happens, what should we do or not do during the floods?

Weather.com gives us nine great examples of the worst things you can do during a flood:

1. Drive in flooded waters, you don't know how deep it is, or how little of water it will actually take to sweep your car away. According to ready.gov "just two feet of moving water can sweep an SUV off the road".
2. Use electricity in a flooded home
3. Get in the flood water, as there could be sewage, disease, and/or dangerous animals 
4. Play with the wild animals
5. Ignore flood warnings
6. Not having a flood emergency kit
7. Leaving things on and plugged in when you evacuate your home
8. Not being properly dressed
9. Leaving important belongings on the main floor where the flood will likely get them. 

So what should you do during a flood?

1. Go to high ground
2. Avoid the areas that are currently flooded
3. Never drive in the water

After the flood ensure that you:

1. Check for any damage
2. Get all the wet objects including carpet, as it can mold in 24-48 hours
3. Clean and disinfect everything that the flood water touched
4. Create a plan before repairing
5. File for your flood insurance claim. Remember, only flood insurance will help you when a flood happens. 

To make sure you are prepared and ready for flood season, the following are suggested:

1. Create an emergency plan, and ensure everyone living in the home knows it
2. Create a home inventory list for the insurance companies
3. Ensure you have flood insurance, as other insurance types most likely won't cover flood damage

Be prepared with emergency survival kits, as well as food and water storage. You never know how long you will have to go without modern conveniences. 

Nature is Taking its Toll

Weather tends to be unpredictable. The winter storm Xanto struck many northern states this past week. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the storm broke the record for the heaviest snow fall in April, and 2nd for the heaviest snowfall of all-time.

Wisconsin was not the only state effected. Below is what weather.com reported as "some of the top snow and ice reports from Xanto".

To help ensure safe travels during the snow, seven tips are given by the U.S.News:

1. Drive slow and know your car's breaks
2. Even with all-wheel drive you can still slide
3. If possible don't stop, and when you do give yourself time
4. Use snow tires or chains
5. Be prepared for the worst
6. Make sure the exhaust pipe is clear
7. Make sure you can see

The North wasn't the only ones to get hit hard. Tornadoes have been wreaking havoc through the South. Virginia declared a state of emergency. Louisiana and North Carolina had deaths, and a lot of damage occurred to Arkansas and many other states. People had been evacuated, saving lives, but some were still hurt. A mother was saved by the jaws of life, after being pinned under a tree that fell on her motor home.

Property was damaged.

Cars were flipped.

And houses were demolished.

With the possibility of unpredictable weather, and the start of tornado season, ensure that you are prepared with some type of emergency kit, automobile kit, and food storage. You never know when an evacuation will occur, your car will get stuck, or your house will be damaged.