Preparing for nature’s wrath: Steps to take before a tornado strikes

Tornadoes can develop fast — and they can be highly destructive, leveling structures and taking lives. While tornadoes in the U.S. strike more frequently from March through July, they can occur any time of year. Some areas in the South and Midwest are more prone to tornadoes, but these violent, often unpredictable storms have occurred in every state.¹

If you live in an area at greater risk for tornadoes, it’s a good idea to prepare for the worst. During tornado season, pay attention to local news and be ready to take action when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issues one of three types of tornado alerts. NOAA will issue a “Tornado Watch” in areas where current conditions could lead to tornadoes. A more severe alert — a “Tornado Warning”—indicates that tornadoes have been spotted or detected. The severest alert — a “Tornado Emergency” — means you should seek shelter immediately.²

A Tornado Warning or Tornado Emergency signals imminent danger in your are — and you should take action to protect your family and property. Here are key steps to take before tornado season — and when the NOAA issues an alert:

Plan ahead to keep yourself and family safe

• Make a plan! Prepare and keep a check list on your phone or somewhere close at hand that details the steps you should take to protect your house and family.
• Put together two emergency kits — one for your home and one for your car. Common items for an emergency kit include flashlights, a portable radio, extra batteries, shelf-stable food, bottled water, cash, blankets, clothing, and toiletries. If you have pets, remember to prepare items for them, such as food, water, medications, and bowls. Make sure that your kits are inspected and refreshed as needed every six months. 
• Are you fully charged and fueled? Charge your cell phone, battery packs, and any other electrical devices you need. Make sure your car has a full tank of gas and/or is fully charged. If you have a generator, make sure it’s fueled and in working order; if it’s been more than three years since your generator’s last inspection, have it professionally inspected.
• Safely store important documents. Store digital copies of key documents in the cloud—and make sure they are protected with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. Physical documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, insurance policies, and financial papers should be stored in an onsite safe that is bolted to the floor and located in an interior area, away from your home’s exterior walls.

Protect your home and belongings

• Secure the exterior of your home and outdoor belongings. Patio furniture, rolling grills, planters, and other backyard items should be moved to your garage or storage shed. Tree trimming, as well as tree cabling or bracing, of trees around your home can help prevent serious damage. If you have shutters or storm doors, secure and lock them if the NOAA issues a tornado alert.
• Storing items in your basement? Anything stored in your basement, from art to fragile items, should be elevated off the floor — one to two feet whenever possible.
• Move your cars. Vehicles should be moved into your garage or to higher ground. If you have a car collection, be sure to have an emergency evacuation plan in place and move the collection when the tornado warning window allows.

Consider options for a tornado shelter

• Do you have a designated area of your home as a shelter? Any fully enclosed area is preferred to an area that has openings to the outside. Avoid going near windows and doors until the storm passes.
• Custom-built storm shelters. Some homes feature a custom shelter, made by monolithically pouring concrete over a cinderblock frame. Drywall and sheetrock can cover the outside of this room, integrating it into your home.
• Prefab shelters. These are normally smaller than monolithically poured shelters and feature one large metal tube-like structure with a door. Prefab shelters are rated by the shelter industry to withstand tornado debris flying at high speeds. 
• What should be inside the shelter? Some shelters feature a buried dedicated phone line for emergency use, a security camera viewing screen showing conditions outside your home, separate ventilation from the rest of the house, emergency lighting, a toilet, and built-in murphy bunk beds. Shelters can be customized to meet your priorities.

For more information on planning for natural disasters, please visit Chubb’s online Catastrophe Center.