is anyone other than me thinking the next 2 days aren't going to be good for tornado season?? I don't like the way the weather map looks. IF you don't know what to do in a tornado please google it and look it up. please post any tips you have if you live in tornado alley for those who aren't used to them. Can you help me with this????
I am from tornado alley don't live there anymore but they are hitting wierd areas this year where they don't normally hit. My best advice if it feels earie out side be very careful and keep an eye on the sky
I knew I didn't like the set up but I didn't think it was going to be as bad as it was Tuesday night. and more on the way. HOpefully someone who is in unusaul areas for tornados learned something from this.
I'm so sorry , and hope its ok...funny side note I thought it said another tomatoe outbreak=) I was thinknig when was the first one..and that would only be bad for horrible comedians...oh no..I would've gotten slammed with them for that one=)
We use our laundry room as our safe room. It is an interior room and it's under the stairs. I have water and non-perishable snacks in the room, just in case we are trapped. I also have a radio, blankets and pillows. I do have a small first aid kit as well. The gentleman on the Today show this morning from Joplin, MO, hid in his bathtub with pillows over top. I've heard this is also a very safe place to be, but if you can cover with a mattress.
Here is what I have in my Tornado Kit that I keep in the basement -- in the most interior bathroom if no basement:
1. blankets THICK as possible.
2. Water Bottles
3. Canned Food - preferably the pull tab kind
4. Tupperware/Ziplock baggies (food storage)
5. First Aid Kit
6. Change of clothes for the kids weather appropriate -- jackets for all -- socks and boots/tennis shoes for all
7. Emergency radio/light/batteries/flares
8. Shovel/crow bar/saw
9. toliet paper/bucket etc for bodily functions ...
and some cash along with a copy of our id's/ss cards/birth cirtificates etc
I think that is all that we have for it ... OHHH and supplies for the animals too, that is if you have any.
Praying for you D. I am glad we got to talk today. I think the best thing is to have a plan as to where to go and where to meet the rest of the family. If there is no basement they say to go to a middle room or hallway away from windows. If you live close to a shelter listen to the warnings and get there right away if the conditions are good for a tornado.
If you are caught out driving (sometimes going to the ER can't be put on hold...) and you see a tornado, look for a bridge. Park under the bridge and hold on the under structure. I kept rope and swiss seat material in my trunk and have gotten to the point that I can tie a seat in 10 seconds and tie reliable rock climbing knots to a bridge in 30 seconds.
Swiss seat:
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&so...
I've lived in tornado alley all my life. I've slept in bathtubs with my kids and dog and a mattress pulled up over us. We also have our 72 hours kits next to us too in case of emergency.
A good place to go for info on 72 hours kits and tornado safety is here:
http://www.knowhat2do.com/
I live in a mobile home so I must seek alternative shelter at all times when a severe storm is in the area. I always keep the local weather on plus I often have intellicast.com on the computer. We had a severe storm a few weeks ago that was going to miss us then it suddenly back built. The winds were over 100 mph and I nearly didn't get to the ER to go to the hospital basement in time. I think I was very late but I still make it.
The wind hit just as I was getting the kids in the car and by the time I had driven a half mile I could not see 20 feet in front of the car. I got to the parking lot and was afraid to get out due to the wind blowing stuff around and the rain being so violent. When I realized we were probably not very safe in the car I could not open the door. I drove to the ER door and got out of the passenger side and got the kids out. I could not close the doors due to the wind being so strong so I had to leave them hanging open.
The sliding doors to the ER were being bombarded so hard they could not open so there we were standing in the storm trying to get in. They finally pushed open and we got in. The windows in the ER were going in and out, looking like they were going to blow out. A man was standing at one watching his car move from one parking place to another. That's how hard the wind was blowing. Dumpsters were flying across the parking lot, not literally but really rolling along.
We went into the sitting room they reserve for families that may have their loved one die. It is secluded and has doors on both sides with comfortable chairs. I laid the kids down with blankets a very kind nurse gave us. Their were more families coming in too. We even had some storm chasers take shelter in the ER too.
The storm was raging outside and more and more people trickled in. They finally sent us to the basement due to so many filling up the area. We were all settled in and the announcement came over the speaker that the sirens were sounding and to please take tornado precautions, I had been there nearly 30 minutes. About 30 minutes later they gave the all clear. As we were going upstairs and leaving there were about 10-15 more families just getting there due to the sirens sounding after the storm was nearly over.
My point is that when you recognize the weather is a danger take shelter then, don't wait for someone to tell you that you are in danger. Much of my town was hit by these high winds and we lost several businesses and homes. They say it wasn't a tornado but I just feel it was. The storm chasers said they saw the funnel lowering and that it had hit a local hardware store as they drove under it.
Don't wait, get to your safe place as soon as you feel the weather warrants it. Have a backpack with snacks, coloring books, anything that you may need to keep your kids calm. Check out 72 hour kits online and make your own. Have water on hand for each person. Be safe!
Also, find an interior or basement room where you can go quickly if you hear a tornado is near. Keep your radio on all day to a good weather-reporting station. (It would be good to have a battery-operated radio, too.) Keep your safety room stocked with necessities - water, first aid supplies, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, pet food if you have pets, blankets, pillows, etc. I imagine other people can add to this list. You may not need these things, but better safe than sorry. We rarely have tornadoes out here, but one touched down briefly east of us a few days ago, so I'm remembering all this.
I know what you mean I live in Kansas..My car was just totaled out 20 min ago extensive damage from the storm that was Sat.evening,we were all in the basement.I have all the kids get their shoes on,my purse,water bottles food,blankets,radio,flashlights,matches,candles,blankets,lloks like i'll be packing bags for all of us to store down in the basement
Please don't go under a bridge and try to hold on - they've proven that the windspeed is just increased as one passes and has pulled people off/out from under those structures.
Stay as safe as possible - we've had crazy weather all over.
