When Severe Weather Hits … Are You Prepared?

During the summer months severe weather in our part of the country tends to come in two forms … tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

Every year people are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms despite advance warning. Paying attention to these warnings is important to ensure your family is ready when dangerous weather conditions arise.

If Thunder Roars … Go Indoors
A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail at least 1 inch in diameter or has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes.

Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause yard flooding Naperville, and high winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages.

If you depend on power at your home to keep an income then having a backup generator means your business can still stay competitive even when there’s a power failure. Additionally, a home generator may be deductible if used for business purposes. Before buying one, check out how does a generator work first according to Pleavin Power.

Tornadoes Have Been Reported in Every State
Tornadoes are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. Although severe tornadoes are more common in the Plains States, tornadoes have been reported in every state.

Staying Safe During Severe Weather

• Learn about your local community’s emergency warning system for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes

• Discuss thunderstorm, lightning and tornado safety with all members of your household

• Pick a safe place in your home to gather during a thunderstorm or tornado.  This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows, skylights or glass doors.

• Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of severe weather.

• Protect your animals by ensuring that their shelters are well protected

• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. If thunder roars, go indoors!

• Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery-powered TVs and radios instead.

• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.

• Avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.

• Get trained in first aid and learn how to respond to emergencies

• Put together an emergency preparedness kit

Additional American Red Cross Recommendations
The American Red Cross website has additional recommendations and actions you can take to prepare for, ride out and recover from severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.  To learn more go to Thunderstorms and Tornadoes.

The information contained in this article was obtained from the American Red Cross website.

In Case of Property Losses
Make sure you are protected financially from damages and losses to your property that can be sustained as a result of severe weather. If you need help with claims, you may connect with experts like LMR Public Adjusters.