512-331-0787 Client Center ☰ ˟
Logo
Client Center Call Us: 512-331-0787 Text Us: 512-980-9469
  • Home
  • Get A Quote ›
    • Automobile
    • Business & Commercial
    • Commercial Auto
    • Disability
    • Homeowners
    • Life
    • Long Term Care
    • Motorcycle
    • Recreational Vehicle
    • Renters
    • Watercraft & Boat
  • Our Products ›
    • Products
    • Home & Auto Insurance
    • Auto Insurance ›⤵
      • Auto Insurance
      • Liability Coverage
      • Comprehensive Coverage
      • Collision Coverage
      • Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage
      • Accident Forgiveness
      • Roadside Assistance
      • Specialty Auto Insurance
      • 24-Hour Customer Service
      • Towing
      • Rental Reimbursement
      • SR-22 Insurance
      • Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
      • Medical Payments Coverage
    • Home Insurance ›⤵
      • Home Insurance
      • Property Insurance
      • Homeowners Liability
      • Renters Insurance
      • Condo Insurance
      • Mobile Home Insurance
      • Scheduled Property Insurance
      • Landlords Insurance
      • In-Home Business Insurance
    • Other Personal Insurance ›⤵
      • Other Personal Insurance
      • Identity Theft
      • Jewelry Insurance
      • Personal Umbrella Insurance
      • Personal Cyber Insurance
      • Pet Insurance
      • Data Backup
    • Life Insurance ›⤵
      • Life Insurance
      • Individual Life Insurance
      • Group Life Insurance
      • Long-Term Care Insurance
      • Disability Insurance
      • Second-To-Die Policy
      • Key Person (Key Men) Insurance
    • Recreational Vehicle Insurance ›⤵
      • Recreational Vehicle Insurance
      • Boat Insurance
      • Motorcycle Insurance
      • Motorhome Insurance
      • ATV Insurance
    • Additional Insurance Services ›⤵
      • Special Event Insurance
      • Vacation Rental Property Insurance
    • Coverage for Specific Industries ›⤵
      • Coverage for Specific Industries
      • Auto Repair Shop Insurance
      • Church and Nonprofit Organizations
      • Construction Insurance
      • Educational Facility Insurance
      • Healthcare Practice Insurance
      • Landscaping Insurance
      • Law Firm Insurance
      • Machine Shop Insurance
      • Pool & Spa Insurance
      • Personal Trainer Insurance
      • Real Estate Business Insurance
      • Retail Insurance
      • Specialty Trade Contractors Insurance
      • Water Well Drillers Insurance
    • Coverage for Your Business ›⤵
      • Coverage for Your Business
      • Bonds
      • Business Owners Policy (BOP)
      • Commercial Auto Insurance
      • Commercial General Liability
      • Commercial Property Insurance
      • Commercial Umbrella Insurance
      • Crime Insurance
      • Cyber Liability Insurance
      • Fidelity Bonds
      • Loss Control Insurance
      • Inland Marine Insurance
      • Professional Liability
      • Surety Bonds
      • Workers Compensation
    • Coverage for Your Employees ›⤵
      • Coverage for Your Employees
      • Group Disability Insurance
      • Disability Insurance
      • Individual Life Insurance
  • Blog
  • Social Feed
  • Payment/Claims
  • Our Agency ›
    • Client Center
    • Services Areas›⤵
      • TEXAS
      • Austin
      • Cedar Park
      • Georgetown
      • Houston
      • Jonestown
      • Lago Vista
      • Lakeway
      • Leander
      • Liberty Hill
      • Pflugerville
      • Point Venture
      • Round Rock
      • WASHINGTON
      • Spokane
    • About ›⤵
      • About
      • Our Staff
      • Our Locations
    • Referral Program
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
    • Get A Quote
    • Our Providers
    • Community Involvement ›⤵
      • Community Involvement
      • Superhero Kids
  • Contact Us ›
    • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Location & Hours
Auto and Home Icon

Auto & Home

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Learn More
Business Icon

Business

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Learn More
Life and Health Icon

Life & Disability

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Learn More
RV and Boat Icon

RV & Boat

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Learn More
Annuities Icon

Motorcycle

We browse through a wide variety of coverages and find the right one for you.

Learn More
Home > Blog > What To Do Before, During & After A Tornado
MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023

What To Do Before, During & After A Tornado

Tornado in the distance. Tornado PrepartionTornado Facts to Consider

 In 2020, the United States experienced over 1,000 reported tornadoes that caused over $2.5 billion in damage. Roughly 30% of tornadoes in the US occur in “Tornado Alley.” This stretch of land covers only 15% of the US, spanning from Dallas up to Sioux Falls and westerly to Albuquerque. On average, it receives 268 tornadoes per year. Coastal states can experience tornadoes as well. Florida receives an average of 49 tornadoes annually. This is more per square mile than some Midwestern states such as Kansas and Maryland. These coastal tornadoes are smaller, but still account for several fatalities every year.

Tornadoes can touch down quickly and move at speeds of up to 70 mph. If one happens near you, you may only have a few minutes to get under a desk or into a basement. Learn how you can prepare your home and business before a tornado, ways to help you remain safe during one, and things you can do after one happens.

 

Before a Tornado

Contact ButtonGet A Quote Button

Build a safe room. Tornadoes strike very suddenly and with little warning. You won’t have time to prep your house or business the way you might with a hurricane or blizzard. So, if you’re in a region that is at high risk for tornadoes, consider making a longer term investment in securing your home or business. You can do this by building a safe room.

A safe room can be constructed in your basement, in an interior space on your first floor, on a concrete slab foundation or on a garage floor. To protect occupants, a safe room is built to withstand high winds and flying debris that may destroy the building surrounding it. Consider these tornado safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency when building a safe room:

  • A safe room must be adequately anchored to resist overturning and uplifting.
  • The walls, ceiling and door of the shelter must withstand wind pressure and resist penetration by windborne objects and falling debris.
  • The connections between all parts of the safe room must be strong enough to resist the wind.
  • Sections of either interior or exterior residence walls that are used as walls of the safe room must be separated from the structure of the home. This is so damage to the residence will not affect the safe room.

Know the warning signs. Be on the lookout for these signs that a tornado is forming.

  •  Dark, often greenish sky
  •  Large hail
  • Large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
  • Loud roar, similar to a freight train

Seek shelter. It’s possible you won’t be near your safe room when a tornado touches down in your area. If that’s the case, use the few minutes you have to get to the safest place possible. Put as many walls and ceilings between yourself and the tornado as you can. If a tornado is coming, run to the nearest building and get to the lowest floor, in the most central room possible. Don’t try to outrun a tornado, even if you’re in a car.

If there are no buildings near you, get into your car, buckle the seatbelt and cover your head with your arms. If you cannot get to a car or building, lay flat on the ground and cover your head. If you can, get to a lower elevation spot. For example, the bottom of a hill will be better than the top of one. Do not go under an overpass or bridge. These structures may crumble during a tornado.

 

During a Tornado

Get the word out. If you’re under a tornado watch, spread the word to anyone you know who may not be aware. Post a notice on social media as well. Discuss with your family members and employees where they should go if the tornado touches down. Talk to your fire department about “best available refuges” in your area. 

Get to shelter. If the tornado watch turns to a tornado warning, get to shelter immediately. Remember, you may only have a few minutes once the tornado warning is sent. Once you are in your shelter, cover your body as best as you can. Get under a sturdy table or desk if possible. If you can lie down, do so. Whatever position you’re in, be sure to cover your head with your arms, a blanket or a heavy jacket.

 

After a Tornado

Get information. Get information from FEMA or American Red Cross mobile apps or websites. Don’t leave your shelter until it is confirmed by an official source that the tornado has passed. Don’t trust what you hear on social media about the tornado being over unless the information is accompanied by a link to an official source.

Stay in place if you’re trapped. Cover your mouth with a cloth or mask to avoid breathing dust and debris. Don’t try to yell for help as this will only cause you to inhale more dust. Instead, bang on the wall, tap a pipe or blow on your emergency whistle to signal that you are trapped.

Inspect damage. Be sure to photograph any damage that your property receives. Contact your insurance company immediately to report the damage.

 

Report A Claim If Needed. If you need to report a claim, contact your insurer right away. Your homeowners insurance will help pay for damages to your home and the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance will help pay for damages to your vehicle.

When you contact your insurance company, a customer service representative will likely ask you to explain what happened, describe the damage to your property, and confirm your contact information

If you live in an area prone to tornadoes, remember the storm itself is not the only danger you may face. After a tornado has subsided, it’s important to continue to take the proper steps to avoid additional injuries or damage, and to start the process of repairing or replacing your property.

 

Information Provided By The Hartford.

Posted 1:36 PM

Tags: home insurance, tips, business insurance
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020

  • tips(53)
  • business insurance(36)
  • auto(21)
  • home insurance(17)
  • auto insurance(14)
  • cyber liability insurance(11)
  • insurance(9)
  • home(8)
  • safety tips(8)
  • commercial insurance(7)
  • safety(7)
  • life insurance(6)
  • risk management(5)
  • cyber security(4)
  • commercial property insurance(4)
  • homeowners(4)
  • coverage(4)
  • policy(4)
  • commercial auto(3)
  • workers comp(3)
  • general liability(3)
  • renters insurance(3)
  • construction industry(3)
  • homeowners insurance(3)
  • contractors(3)
  • directors & officers(2)
  • discounts(2)
  • motorcycle(2)
  • osha guidelines(2)
  • business auto(2)
  • religious organizations(2)
  • nonprofits(2)
  • cybersecurity(2)
  • personal liability(2)
  • motorcyle(2)
  • covid-19(1)
  • accident fraud(1)
  • partnerships(1)
  • directors and officers(1)
  • taylor(1)
  • business(1)
  • owners(1)
  • life events(1)
  • flood insurance(1)
  • skin cancer(1)
  • faq(1)
  • disability insurance(1)
  • insurance policy(1)
  • eco-friendly lifestyle(1)
  • pets(1)

View Mobile Version

Contact Us Today!
512-331-0787

Social Social Social

Resources

  • Products
  • Customer Service
  • Payment Options
  • Social Feed
  • Report a Claim
  • About Us
  • Refer A Friend
  • Our Carriers
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Contact Us

1841 S Lakeline Blvd. Ste 101-302 | Cedar Park, TX 78613
P: 512-331-0787 | Text: 512-980-9469 | F: 512-506-8115
Email Us: Personal Lines | Commercial Lines
© Copyright. All rights reserved. | Powered by Insurance Website Builder