Surviving Tornado SeasonIt’s that time of year again folks; severe weather season. For most cities and towns across the United States, there are elements of rain, hail, and extreme winds. In Newnan, GA, we know it brings tornado season.

Over 1,200 tornados hit the United States each year. Having plans in place for taking cover so your family knows what to do when the moment comes is critical. During a tornado, winds can reach speeds of over 300 mph. Seek protection in a small, centrally located room on the lowest floor of your home. Stay off the roads and seek permanent shelter. If you are outside without access to any shelter, find the lowest ground and lay face down and cover your head.

Being prepared and knowing what to do will decrease your chances of serious injury. Prepare yourself and prepare your home to ensure your safety. By the time the severe weather hits, it is already too late for any sort of home improvements, so here are ways to better prepare for the upcoming tornado season. Utilize the local professionals who can help prepare you and your home with siding, gutters, and roofing in Newnan, GA.

Prepare Your Family

Run a Drill

First and foremost, it is best to prepare ahead of time. Establish a routine with your family members so everyone knows what to do in an emergency situation. Running through a severe weather drill can make a huge difference in family safety. Ensure that your children know where they need to go and what they need to take with them to hunker down and ride out the storm. Here is a planning checklist for the home:

  • Head to the Basement
  • Stay Under Sturdy Protection
  • Use Head Protection
  • Avoid Windows
  • Do Not Stay Under Heavy Objects

In an apartment building, office building, school, public place, or home without a basement, follow these tips:

  • Go to the Lowest Floor
  • Cover Yourself With Thick Padding Like A Mattress
  • Stay In A Small Center Room Or Under A Stairwell, Crouch Down and Cover Head
  • Avoid Windows
  • Do Not Take Elevators
  • Avoid Large Open Rooms

Prepare a Kit

In the event of severe weather, it could take rescue crews or any other workers a couple days to reach all areas of the disaster. Arm your family members with 72-hour kits to ensure everyone has what they need until help can arrive. Each kit should be packed in a back pack or tote that is easy to transport and should contain things like food, water, flashlight, medicine, batteries, a blanket, a two-way radio, a first aid kit, and important documents such as copies of insurance cards. Here is a checklist:

  • Flashlight
  • Extra Batteries
  • Battery Operated Radio
  • First Aid Kit
  • Important Documents
  • Important Phone Numbers
  • Personal Identification
  • Cell Phone and Chargers
  • Bottled Water & Snacks
  • Duct Tape
  • Pocket Knife/Tool
  • Prescriptions (Medications and Eyeglasses)
  • Tolietries & Sanitizer
  • Whistle
  • Matches
  • Spare Set of Keys
  • Cash or Credit Card(s)
  • Special Items for Children

Most people also have pets and with the loud noises, it is especially difficult to keep a pet calm. Here is a list to help keep your pets safe:

  • Two Week Supply of Food and Water
  • Pet First Aid Kit & Medications
  • Photo of Your Pet/ID & a Photo of You With Your Pet
  • Leashes/Collars & ID Tags/Harnesses
  • Updated Immunization/Vet Records
  • Pet Carrier for Each Pet
  • Cat Litter Box and Litter
  • Plastic Bags
  • Toys and Treats

Prepare an Away Plan

It is very likely that you or a family member may not be home at the time of a tornado. Keep a two-way radio in your car in the event you are unable to use a cell phone. Make sure to update your cell phone with apps that alert you of severe weather in your area so you have ample time to find appropriate shelter. Ensure that part of your plan includes an emergency kit for your car so you have the important survival items.

Prepare Your Home

There are several ways to ensure that your home is in the best condition to survive tornado season. Take a walk around your property and evaluate potential risks to your home. Make some phone calls to professionals who can help you decide which projects will be suited to protect your home in a tornado. Here is a checklist to help you protect the inside of your home:

  • Pictures & Mirrors: Ensure they are firmly anchored to walls
  • Bookcases & Shelves: Bolt shelves to studs and strap bookcases to walls
  • Breakables: Store in cabinets that latch
  • Curtains & Blinds: Close nightly to avoid flying glass
  • Hanging Lights & Plants: Secure with anchors
  • Appliances: Restrain with straps or hooks
  • Outdoors: Secure furniture and accessories
  • Landscaping: Remove dry debris and create a perimeter

Use Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors

In the extreme winds of a tornado, windows and doors blow open or break allowing other debris or water to flow into the home. High bursts of wind inside the home is what can cause a roof to lift off exposing the rest of the home to more damage. Replacing windows and exterior doors with out-swinging types will use the wind pressure to compress their seals and hold up better against the elements. Each replacement window and door should be rated for winds at least 30% stronger than demanded by local building codes in Georgia. These should be installed by a professional for maximum performance.

Use Wind-Resistant Siding

Minor damage to the siding of your home can easily allow moisture to seep inside the walls of your home creating mold and rot. Wind-resistant siding products are nailed directly into the wall studs, not the wall sheathing for a better hold. Any vinyl siding should be rated to withstand 150 mph winds and come with a double nailing hem for a tighter and more secure hold. If you are looking for something more than vinyl, fiber-cement siding is an option that you can evaluate with a local professional. This siding is extremely heavy and wind-proof.

Use a Local Roofer

It is tempting to go the DIY on your roof to save some cost, however if you live in a tornado area, it is better to seek a professional for roofing in Newnan. These professionals take a number of precautions with your roof to combat high winds. First, they seal roof sheathing seams. Wind lifts off the underlayment exposing the joints in the roof sheathing and can do serious damage to the roof and the rest of your home. Seal sheathing joints with peel-and-stick flashing tape and cover sheathing with a self-adhering membrane as the underlayment to keep this from lifting and exposing yourself to additional damage.

It is also critical to use extra fasteners for roof sheathing. The traditional building codes cover minor winds and hail but do not account for any severe weather. Rather than allowing the winds to tear off the roof sheathing, roofers will use ring-shank nails or screws to fasten plywood sheathing to the roof rafters. Careful nailing is a must, especially at the edges of sheathing panels. Tighter nail spacing of 6 inches apart, in conjunction with the self-adhering membrane as the underlayment will significantly decrease damage done to the roof during tornado season.

Finally, evaluate the roof vents as these are typically the weakest points in the roof during a storm. These tricky areas will let water and debris inside your home during high winds. A local roofer can replace your vents with wind and rain resistant models for better strength and durability during a major storm.

Follow Plans During a Storm

People make a major mistake when an actual storm hits. They have all their planning and training in place, and then when the storm comes, they abandon their plans and end up hurt. Make sure that your planning includes who, what, where, when, and how so that you are ready to execute your plans.

The Who

When the storm hits, make sure you know where your loved ones are. Did all the kids make it to a safe place or is someone dawdling? Look around your safe space and take a head count. Keeping everyone calm and collected, get yourselves to an interior room and away from windows. Find somewhere on the bottom floor of the home or even in the basement under the stairs. Cover your heads and prepare to ride out the storm together.

The What

During a storm, it is difficult to know when and how hard you will be hit. Prepare everyone around you for noises they might hear. If you are in the right place, it will likely be dark and can be intimidating. Prepare for what you will do when the storm hits and even what you will do if it passes you by.

The When

Teach everyone to keep an eye on the skies. Know what to look for. Keep your lines of communication open so everyone can be adequately prepared to see shelter at the appropriate times.

The How

If you are in your home when the severe weather hits, you should have already practiced your plan of action, however if you are on the road, know where you are going to go. Drive away from the storm and seek shelter quickly.

After The Storm

Once the severe weather has passed, it is very important to assess the current physical condition of yourself and those around you. If everyone is ok, then it is time to disentangle yourselves from your shelter area, taking great care as there will likely be debris in your way. Be very careful when moving debris as it is very unstable and can collapse at any moment and injure you.

If someone is hurt, it will be important to get them to a nearby triage location so their injuries can be adequately cared for. Check your cell phone to see if you can make a call for help. It is likely that there will be many others around you who also need help so it could take some time.

After you have left your shelter area, beware of unstable debris, but also, beware of any exposed wiring. Do not approach any wiring or power lines that have fallen, broken, or are submerged in water.

Get to safety as quickly as possible and contact your family to let them know your status. If there are others who need help around you, try to keep them calm until help can arrive. Only remove them from a dangerous position if there is no other option. If you need extra light to see, do not light candles or matches as gas could be leaking.

Be safe out there please!

As we all know, tornados have warning signs, but often, there are short times between when we see the signs and when we need to get to safety. Practice your plans often to ensure proper execution. Keep prep bags handy for quick grab-and-run access. Make your home the strongest it can be to withstand the elements. Keep yourself safe before, during, and after by following these tips.

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