Are You Ready For Storm Season?

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

• Tornadoes may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
• Tornadoes can destroy structures and lift vehicles.
• Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
• Tornadoes generally move Southwest to Northeast, but they have been known to move in any direction.
• The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH.
• Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
• Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
• Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
• Peak tornado season is March through May; Tuscaloosa has a second tornado season from November to early December.
• Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. but can occur at any time.
• The average tornado lasts less than 10 minutes, but it can last from seconds to more than an hour.

While securing your personal belongings and valuables is important, protecting yourself and your family should be your top priority when a tornado watch is in effect. 

Your family should have a plan in place so that you can quickly find shelter, particularly if you live in a vulnerable structure such as a mobile home. You should also pre-designate a place to meet up after the storm in the event that you are separated.

Basements and storm cellars are the safest places to wait out a tornado. If shelter below ground is not available, go to the lowest floor possible and seek protection in a bathroom, closet or other interior room far from windows and as close to the center of the house as possible.

Conventional wisdom holds that opening windows helps by equalizing pressure in the house. This is no longer advised, however, as doing so allows damaging debris to enter your home.

The bottom line is if a tornado warning is issued for your area, you should hunker down in the basement, cellar or tornado shelter as quickly as possible. Saving you and your family members’ lives is more important than preserving your home.

For more tips to protect your home before the next tornado warning, or to schedule cleanup services following a natural disaster, please contact SERVPRO of Montgomery at 334.284.1612.