Tornado Alley is characterized by a unique combination of geography, weather patterns, and atmospheric conditions that make it particularly prone to tornadoes. Many people live safe, happy lives in Tornado Alley, but with the life-threatening possibility of tornadoes eminent at every minute, there are some precautions and lifestyles that become second nature for the residents of such areas. From investing in safe room shelters to stocking up on groceries, here are some ways Tornado Alley residents prepare for tornadoes in Dallas.
1. Downloading a Weather App:
Staying up to date on their local condition is a good idea for people anywhere, but the minute-by-minute play of the weather needed for life in Tornado Alley makes this download crucial. There’s no saying when a heavy storm might turn into a tornado, but you want to be one of the first to know when it does.
Also, make sure to follow all weather alerts issued by national and local authorities. Follow the local news, radio stations, social media, and radar images (online) to see any new developments. Learning the language of tornadoes is also key. This means being able to distinguish a tornado watch from a tornado emergency and make sense of tornado strength ratings.
2. Maintaining a Hand-Written List of Contacts
There is no dependable technology when a tornado hits. Power could be knocked out for days, and if your phone’s battery dies, you might be without access to your contacts. This is why it’s important to maintain a hand-written list, which you can keep on hand in your storm shelter. This could also contain addresses, instructions, tornado checklists, and other urgent information you need access to during a tornado.
3) Reinforcing Your House
Installing a safe room in your house is key to keeping you protected, but to minimize property damage, you need to reinforce your house too. This could involve installing storm shutters, reinforcing your roof, and securing your garage door. You could also strengthen the walls and foundation of your house with steel rods or plates.
4) Planning and Practice
Ultimately, it’s all about being prepared and ensuring you have a safety drill that you and your loved ones have practiced until it’s muscle memory. The basics of any tornado drill include moving to a safe location, like a tornado safe room, quickly.
Secondly, ensure everyone remains alert to the weather emergency and can independently follow protocol to move to the safe location promptly.
5) Stocking Up on Food and Emergency Supplies
Do a grocery run regularly to ensure you have non-perishable goods for up to three days of consumption (according to the number of people in your house).
Also, ensure your safe room has an emergency kit containing batteries, first aid supplies, water, can openers, and more.
Safe Rooms in Dallas, Texas
US Safe Room Tornado Shelters have been in the business of making strong, secure safe room shelters in Dallas and other locations in Texas for over 25 years. We make sure our storm shelters and safe rooms meet FEMA guidelines, and they are designed to withstand an EF5 Tornado. Get your safe room installed in two weeks. Contact us today to get a quote!
