Tornadoes can be scary and unpredictable, but having your home hit by a tornado does not have to be the end of the world. If you are prepared, you may be able to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. You may also be able to minimize the damage to your home and belongings.

Watch Local Warnings

Being aware of local warnings and watches may help you to have advanced notice of a tornado in the area. This may give you the time that you need to compile emergency supplies and to seek shelter. If advisories are given, stay tuned into local radio or television station so that you are aware of any tornadoes approaching the area of your home. Make sure that mobile devices are charged so that you can still receive weather notifications if the power goes out.

Come Up with a Plan

A plan can be valuable in the case of an emergency. Knowing what to do can help everyone in the home to stay calm and may prevent injuries and damage. Figure out where in the home everyone will go if a tornado strikes. Make sure everyone knows at least two ways to get out of every room and knows where emergency supplies such as first aid kits and flashlights are kept. Learn the locations of all major utility switches so that you can shut power, gas, and water off if you have time.

Keep Important Information Together

Keeping your emergency contact numbers and paperwork like birth certificates and insurance policies together can make these important things easy to grab if a tornado hits. Once the tornado passes, you will be glad to have this information and paperwork together and accessible. Be sure to keep contact information for restoration services in your emergency contacts, as taking care of repairs immediately can help you minimize damage resulting from water and wind coming in through holes and broken windows.

Minimize Home Hazards

When a tornado hits a home or comes through the area, it can cause pictures to fall off walls, objects to fall off shelves, and containers filled with substances to spill. You can minimize the amount of damage that these occurrences are able to cause to the home by taking some precautions. Keeping heavy objects low on shelves and keeping toxic or flammable substances stored in bins and containers can help to decrease damage if a tornado does hit. Taking large pictures or mirrors down during tornado warnings may also be helpful.