Tornado Season: About FIVE Days Away

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Note: This is a slightly revised version as it does appear that tornadoes are possible next week. 

The data indicates that a period of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms could occur from about the 9th to the 13th of this month. Then, "tornado season" will begin in earnest about the 23rd. If you would like to see a spectacular video to get you into a tornado season frame of mind, click here. If you want to learn more about how storm warnings save lives, go here. 

There are several things we recommend before tornado season begins. They include, 

  • Checking your insurance coverage.
  • Do a photographic inventory of your home from top to bottom. This will be essential for filing an insurance claim if your home is struck by a tornado or other severe storm.
  • Chose your storm safety area. The basement is the best, especially if you have a bathroom or can shelter under strong furniture like a pool table. Do not shelter near a "walk out" basement area. If you do not have a basement, shelter on the lowest floor in a bath or closet. 
  • Practice for a tornado warning. Show your children where the safety area is located and actually take them there. Tell them to go on their own if they happen to be caught alone in the house. 
  • Buy a backup charger for your phone and put it in your storm safety area.
  • Put some diapers, a flashlight, a couple of bottles of water and some snacks (trail mix, for example) in the shelter area. 
If you don't have a basement, a bath or closet toward
the middle of the house is your best choice. Put
as many walls between you and the tornado as possible.
Determine how you are going to receive tornado warnings. I recommend at least two of the methods below:
  • Turn on your smartphone's emergency alerts (iPhone example below). Take it to bed with you if storms are predicted.
  • Get the AccuWeather or similar app that tracks your location via GPS. 
  • Get a NOAA Weather Radio and program it for your area. I recommend programming it for: tornadoes, flash floods, winter storm warnings, blizzard warnings and ice storm warnings. If you add severe thunderstorm warnings, it may drive you nuts when you are trying to sleep. 
  • Sign up for WeatherCall. 
How to activate storm warnings 
on your iPhone

There is more to do when violent storms are in the immediate forecast. I'll cover those when appropriate. In the meantime, please make sure these are completed by the end of this week or you may forget. 

Please forward this to friends or relatives. There are strong indications tornado season 2021 will be worse than last year's. 

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