Everyone who grew up in our part of the country undoubtedly remembers having tornado drills during school. We’d all go to a safe part of the building and put our heads down until the principal and teachers deemed us “safe.” Even though we’re not in school anymore, the danger from tornados is still very real—especially during this time of year. Keep reading this helpful guide to learn more about what you can do to prepare for a tornado, how to survive during a tornado and what you should do immediately after the threat has passed.
Before
- Make a communications plan: Things get really confusing really quickly when a tornado touches down. Make sure you know where every member of your family will go and what each of you will do in the event that a tornado touches down.
- Build an emergency kit: To be properly prepared for a tornado, everyone needs to have emergency supplies ready. Some of the things in your emergency kit should include batteries, a portable radio, food and water.
- Be aware of signs and alerts: Unlike hurricanes and other nasty weather events, we don’t get much warning before a tornado touches down. However, there are a few warning signs, if you know what to look for. They’re usually accompanied by bad thunderstorms and hail. The sky will get dark, maybe even green, and you’ll hear a roaring sound like a freight train. Also, keep an eye (or an ear) on the TV or the radio. The local weather channels and NOAA Weather Radio station will continually give weather updates during this time.
During
- Take shelter: There’s no use in trying to outrun a tornado. And this isn’t “Twister,” so you certainly shouldn’t go chasing after it! As soon as there’s a report of a touch down in your area, you need to immediately get to the lowest level of your home or building and cover your head.
- Wait: Stay in your shelter for as long as it takes for the tornado to pass. Listen to your emergency radio for the officials to say it’s all clear.
After
- Avoid debris and power lines: Tornadoes are nasty events that cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage each year. After a tornado blows through, there will undoubtedly be downed power lines and debris all over the road. Avoid these at all costs. Going near a downed powerline is just as dangerous as being near a tornado.
- Call us: Once you’ve determined that you and your family are safe, it’s time to get everything back in order. If your home was damaged, this could mean calling professionals for debris removal in Kansas City. Trying to remove debris by yourself is dangerous; removal should be performed by professionals.
If (and when) a tornado affects our area this year, give us a call. Midland Wrecking Inc. is the number one company for debris removal in Kansas City. Our rates for removal are fair, our team works quickly and we always keep our customers in mind while we’re on a job site.