Abberly Place Blog

Tornadoes are very quick and usually come without much notice, having your plan in place will protect you and the items in your apartment. First and foremost, once you hear that there is a possible tornado near your apartment, or that the conditions are right for a tornado, head to shelter immediately.

If you live in an apartment that is on an upper floor, get to the lowest possible level of the building immediately. This could be an underground parking garage, a community room, or a neighbor’s first floor apartment. If you live in a high-rise apartment building, you may not have enough time to get to a lower level, so picking a place in the hallway in the center of your building is the best idea. If you are in your apartment during a tornado, a closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot to be.

Also ask your apartment leasing manager if there are any storm shelters in your apartment community.

Tornado Safety: Other Apartment Safety Tips

Once you have relocated to a safe place, lie down on the floor and cover yourself up with pillows, blankets and even mattresses for protection from falling objects and debris. If your apartment’s safe place has a heavy piece of furniture, such as a large table, get under that for extra protection. Wearing a bike helmet or other helmet will help protect your head from injuries caused by flying debris.

It is also a great idea to keep an evacuation kit handy. This kit should include a portable radio, flashlight with extra batteries, credit card and cash, first aid kit, spare set of keys, personal identification and anything else of importance or value to you. Having all of this together near your apartment safe place or near your door will save you time and worry during a tornado threat.

Tornado Safety: After the Tornado
If a tornado does come near your apartment, please use extreme caution when exiting your home. Watch out for fallen utility lines and tree limbs that may not have fallen yet. Make sure that everyone is alright and provide assistance to your neighbors that may need attention. Finally, remember to take pictures of your property damage for an insurance claim, if necessary.

Tips on What to Do Before and During a Tornado

More than 243 twisters have flattened towns across the Midwest and the South, from Oklahoma to Virginia, since Thursday. Some areas were hit with flash floods and hail.  Here are tips you can follow to stay safe before and during one of these fierce storms.

Before the Storm
Tornadoes are quick-moving, fierce storms that can strike with little or no warning, and can change direction at any moment.

Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning: A tornado watch means weather conditions are right for a tornado to form in your area, whereas a tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted and may be headed for your area.

Pay Attention to Warnings
When the NWS sends out any tornado alerts or warnings, tune to the NWS radio, FEMA said. The station is dedicated to giving 24/7 updates on current weather conditions. Your local radio and TV stations will also announce NWS alerts.

Even if a tornado watch is issued for your area, stay inside and be aware of changing weather conditions.

Watch the Skies
Sometimes it's as simple as looking out your window. As long as the storm hasn't already hit, check the sky for the following danger signs:

•  Dark, often green sky
•  Large hail
•  Large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
•  Strong wind that sound like a loud roar. It's often been described as similar to a freight train

During the Storm
Regarding what you should do during a tornado, your strategy could change depending on where you are.  Nonetheless the Red Cross suggests having a family preparedness plan ahead of time so everyone knows what to do when a storm hits and where to meet.

If you're in a well-defined structure with sturdy walls, you should go to any pre-designated shelter if there is is one, like a storm cellar or basement. If there is no pre-designed shelter, head to the lowest floor of the building and find the most central room. Be sure to stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. If you're in a vehicle FEMA recommends getting out immediately and heading for a more secure building or storm shelter.

If you're outside and there's no shelter available, get as low as you can. Head for a ditch or land depression and cover your head. Do not go under a bridge or overpass.

One thing FEMA says not to do that could be a natural instinct for most: Do not try to outrun the twister if you're in a congested or urban area.  Also, keep an eye out for flying debris.

Original article By LEE FERRAN and LAUREN EFFRON ABC news