Tornado safety tips

When a tornado happens, you can be caught off guard. Tornados can cause a lot of damage, and without proper preparations, some lives may be lost.

Here are a few tornado safety tips:

• Obtain a survival kit. The first thing you can do to prepare yourself and your family is to purchase a survival kit. You should get one survival kit per family. Tornado survival kits might contain different items, depending on the state. Here is a list of some of the items in an average tornado kit: flashlights, green glow sticks, a tarp, a first aid kit, a radio, eye wash, gloves, and whistles. You should keep this kit on the wall of your basement where it can be easily accessible.     
• Have a working radio. You should always keep a working radio in the house, especially in the basement area. In case of tornado, radio will be your main source of information. You would need to tune to the local news station for the tornado information.
• Do periodic tornado drills. It is always a good idea to have a couple of tornado drills a year. By performing these drills, you and your family will know what to do in case of tornado. Being prepared will give you more chances of survival.
• Tornado- proof your basement. Not every basement can withstand a tornado. If you know that you live in the area with possible tornados, you should tornado- proof your basement by adding more concrete to your basement walls and ceiling, if possible. For heavy- duty tornado proofing, you should consult a professional. 
• Dig a tall ditch. If your house doesn’t have a basement, you should dig a deep ditch. The size of the ditch should depend on the number of people it will shelter. When it is not in use, you should cover it to keep it dry.