Tornado Preparedness

Weather Preparedness

There is no way for us to prevent inclement weather, but there are plenty of things we can do to prepare for it.
Let’s begin with the most important early notification. While we know that there are tornado alerting horns
throughout Vanderburgh County and more have been added including a new one at Resurrection Drive and New
Harmony Road, recent studies have shown that they may not reach you where you are. Because of this we
recommend having a weather radio that will alert you 24 hours a day to any weather emergency.

What's the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?

Tornado Watch: Conditions are favorable for a tornado but none has been spotted.
This is a good time to move to your safe place.

Tornado Warning: There has been a tornado spotted in the area. If you have not
moved to your safe place you must go there at this time.

Have a plan before any inclement weather begins. Consider your home and decide the safest place to be during a storm.
There is no place within a mobile or modular home that is safe, even if it is “tied down or anchored”.
It is best to leave the mobile home and go to a storm shelter or neighbors home. Mobile home Eastbrook

Picture courtesy J.M. Buckman III, Eastbrook 11/6/05.

Within a home the best places to be are:

Basement, cellar
Ground level hallways, bathrooms or interior closets (Center of the home)
Stay away from windows, or rooms with a lot of glass, skylights, chimneys or other heavy objects.
Don’t choose a room with a high ceiling or large expansive ceiling like a gym ceiling.

Prepare an emergency kit and have it either within your safe place or easily accessible to move to the safe place.
This kit should contain the following:

Battery powered radio, emergency weather radio
Spare batteries
Flash lights, (Candles are not the safest choice in an emergency and should be used only as a last resort)
First aid kit and necessary medications
Non-perishable food and water enough for the each family member for approximately 3 days.
Can opener manual.
Blankets and pillows
Extra batteries for the radio flashlights
Whistle
Cell phone
Change of clothing

After The Storm: Remain in your safe place until the danger has passed. Once danger has passed remember you should be careful when leaving your home to check for damage. There may be debris or downed power lines.

The number one killer of inclement weather is flooding:

Never drive thru standing water
Do not allow children to play in standing water, near storm drains or viaducts.

Keep your family together and wait for help to arrive. Stay away from power lines and puddles
with wires in or near them. Watch your step to avoid glass, nails and other sharp objects.
Stay out of heavily damaged buildings; they could collapse without warning.
Do not use matches or a lighter to avoid igniting leaking natural gas or ruptured fuel tanks.
Remain calm and alert and wait for help or instructions from emergency crews or local officials.

For more information about tornado safety or other safety topics, you may contact the
German Township Fire Department 812-963-9077

Collage courtesy Indiana Department of Homeland Security

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