- Did you know a majority of tornadoes typically last for a few minutes?
- Did you know there were confirmed 23 tornadoes in Iowa and 26 in Illinois in 2018?
- Did you know tornadoes in the Midwest are most common from May to July?
- Statistics show our area is at a very high risk for tornadoes and average 3 or more a year.
What should you do to prepare for a tornado?
- During any storm, listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about watches and warnings.
- Know your community’s warning system. Communities have a different ways of warning residents about tornadoes, with many having sirens intended for outdoor warning purposes.
- Pick a safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
What should you do if a tornado is threatening?
- The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement or safe room.
- If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
- Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes or other severe winds.
- If you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, abandon your mobile home immediately.
What do you do after a tornado?
- Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
- If you are away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
- Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes when examining your walls, doors, staircases and windows for damages.
- Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.
Source: Werner Restoration Services