How To Prepare for a Tornado

Tornados can be terrifying natural disasters with the power to level homes with little warning. With roughly 1,000 tornados reported across the U.S. annually, preparing for a potential oncoming twister in advance is vital, as you may only have moments to act.^[1]

Keep reading to learn how to prepare for a tornado, how to act if caught in one and what to do about the damages after the storm has settled.

Essential Steps To Prepare for a Tornado

While tornadoes are often linked to "tornado alley," they can occur anywhere in the country with little warning, even in large cities. Sirens may give as little as 10 to 15 minutes notice before a tornado strikes.^[1][2] Preparing yourself and your household in advance is crucial to ensure you're ready when one is imminent.

1. Create a Tornado Preparedness Plan

Establish a strategy with your household on where you’ll shelter if a tornado occurs while you're at home. Designate a safe room in your home, such as a basement or small interior room with no windows, like a bathroom or closet, on the lowest floor for everyone to gather. Consider building a storm cellar if you have the opportunity, as an underground tornado shelter is one of the best options for your protection.^[1]

Establish how you’ll remain in contact with each other if someone in your household isn’t home, whether through cell contact or other means. Designate someone to be responsible for pets or elderly family members who may struggle to shelter on their own. Regardless of the particulars of your plan, ensure you practice and that everyone is confident on how to act in a tornado emergency.

2. Have an Emergency Kit Ready

You’ll want to prepare an emergency supply kit if you need tools during or after a tornado or another natural disaster. This kit should be filled with first-aid supplies and survival items to help if someone is injured, power is unavailable or you are stranded for some time waiting for assistance. Keep these items in water-resistant and sturdy containers, as they could be thrown around if a tornado heavily impacts your home.

Some items you will want in your emergency kit include:

• Bandages and gauze
• Antiseptic wipes
• Non-perishable food
• One gallon of water per person and pets for each day (ideally three days or more worth)
• Charged battery back-up
• Cash
• Copies of important documents
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Warm blanket
• Medication

3. Know the Warning Signs of a Tornado

Areas that frequently experience tornados will typically use a siren to indicate that a tornado is approaching the area. However, areas that don’t regularly experience tornados may have to rely on national weather service broadcasts or look for warning signs in the weather, including dark and greenish skies, low-altitude clouds and train-like roars in the wind. If tornado watches are in progress where weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form, always be on the lookout for a forming tornado regardless of whether warning sirens are used in your area.

4. Secure Your Household

To secure your household against tornado damage, take proactive steps to reinforce vulnerable areas of your home. Start by installing permanent storm shutters on your windows, as they provide protection from high-speed winds that can arise suddenly. Invest in impact-resistant garage doors, which are crucial since garage doors are often a weak point during tornadoes, allowing winds to enter and potentially lift the roof. Additionally, sturdy exterior doors with three hinges and a deadbolt can help prevent wind and water from entering your home.^[3]

Keeping your yard clear of loose debris is another simple but effective way to minimize potential damage from flying objects during a storm. Regularly trim trees and secure or bring inside outdoor furniture if a tornado is imminent.^[3]

5. Find Where Local Shelters are Located

Knowing where local shelters are located can be crucial in case you are caught away from home when a tornado strikes. In such cases, it's important to know the location of sturdy buildings, like schools, gyms, or malls with basements and limited windows, where you can take cover.

Researching designated storm shelters in your community ahead of time can also provide peace of mind, as these shelters are often among the safest options and may offer emergency resources after the storm.

If you're in your car when alerted to an incoming tornado, avoid trying to outdrive it. Instead, park the car, leave non-essential items behind, and seek shelter in the nearest sturdy building. Underpasses, bridges, and trees offer no real protection and may even increase the danger by accelerating wind and exposing you to flying debris.

6. Fuel and Power Up

Ensure your car’s tank is filled with plenty of gas if there’s a remote chance of a tornado, as you may need to flee to a nearby shelter. Also, gas stations may not be in operation after a tornado, so maintaining the habit of keeping your tank moderately full could save you some trouble if you need to travel to a hospital or find supplies. If you’re concerned about the power going out and have a generator, you can store some extra gasoline to keep it running, but be mindful that it can be a fire hazard if not properly stored.

If there’s a tornado watch in your area, keep your phones, tablets and other battery-powered devices charged. An external backup battery may also help since it may be difficult to anticipate every tornado and keep your phone charged.

7. Check Your Insurance Coverage

While standard homeowners insurance will likely cover your home from tornados, you’ll want to ensure enough coverage to cover the extent of your damages. You should understand the cost of rebuilding your home if it receives severe damage, such as a tree collapsing on your roof, shattered windows or one or more walls being leveled.

Keep in mind that some homeowners insurance policies may have separate deductibles for wind and hail.^[4] Below are states where a separate windstorm deductible may apply.

Items of higher value, such as jewelry, might require a personal property schedule rider or the purchase of a separate policy to ensure their full value is covered if they’re lost or damaged during a tornado. If your home receives significant damages and is rendered uninhabitable, ensure that your loss of use coverage limits are sufficient to cover any hotel accommodations and food costs when your home is being repaired or replaced.

What To Do During and After a Tornado

Here are a few tips on how to act once a tornado has appeared to help you stay safe:

Seek Shelter Immediately

A tornado warning or weather alert notice may only give you minutes to react to a tornado, so it’s critical you seek shelter as soon as possible to reduce the risk of being caught unprotected. If household members are nearby, gather them and head to the designated shelter location in your home or local area if you’re away. Contact household members who aren’t with you by phone after you’re sheltered to confirm they’re aware of the situation and know their location.

Stay Informed

Pay attention to news reports or emergency alert messages that will inform you of specific instructions on what to do after the storm has passed. Don’t immediately leave your shelter if the tornado goes past you or doesn’t touch down, as multiple tornados can touch down from the same storm at different times. Instead, wait for the storm to pass completely or for emergency personnel to arrive before exiting your shelter.

Check for Injuries and Seek Help

Use your prepared emergency supply kit to patch yourself, family members or neighbors for minor injuries. If somebody has a major injury, contact the authorities immediately and if appropriate, deliver first aid care. Avoid traversing through debris and surveying the damage, as downed power lines, rusty metal or glass shards could be hidden underneath.

Report Damages to Your Insurer

Take photographs of any damage to your home and personal property to keep a record for a homeowners insurance claim. Contact your home insurance company as soon as you can to start the claims process, as insurers often reach out to those with the most extensive damage first following a tornado.^[1] If you need to make emergency repairs, such as putting up a tarp or boarding broken windows and doors, ensure you hold onto any receipts, as these may be reimbursable by your insurer.