Tornadoes
"Tornado Alley" is the area of the country that runs north from Texas through eastern Nebraska and northeast to Indiana.
Just because you live elsewhere doesn’t mean that you’re safe from tornadoes. Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas may see more of these unpredictable and dangerous storms than other states, but the rest of the country gets its share of twisters too.
Should a wayward storm come your way, you can take several basic steps right now to protect your family and your home from disaster. Although Nationwide® can't control the weather, we can help ease the financial woes that come from the damage or even loss of your home and possessions due to a tornado.
Know the danger
Tornadoes:
- May strike quickly, with little warning
- May appear transparent until they pick up dust and debris
- Peak in southern states from March through May, and in northern states, from late spring through early summer
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Often have the following danger signs:
- Dark, often greenish sky
- Large hail
- A large, dark, low-lying cloud
- Loud roar, similar to a freight train
Your home, your castle
Structures built to meet or exceed current model building codes for high-wind regions have a much better chance of surviving violent windstorms.
The Standard Building Code, developed by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., is one source for information on how to fortify your home against fierce winds.
Although no home can withstand a direct hit from a severe tornado, good construction will help your home survive if it's on the fringe of the tornado's path.
Limit flying objects
Take these simple steps now to limit damage from flying objects:
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Replace landscaping materials such as gravel and rock with mulch such
as shredded bark
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Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed, paying particular attention to weak
branches that could fall on your home
- Consult a landscaping company about the health of your trees
Think ahead when buildingor remodeling
There's no better time to prepare your home for a tornado than when you are remodeling or building a new one. Going that extra mile now could have significant benefits later.
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Install impact-resistant window systems
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Make certain your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt
security lock with a bolt at least 1 inch long
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Because sliding glass doors are more vulnerable to wind damage,
consider installing impact-resistant door systems made of laminated
glass, plastic glazing or a combination of plastic and glass
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Because garage doors are highly susceptible to wind damage, install
permanent wood or metal stiffeners, or contact the door manufacturer's
technical staff for information on temporary supports you can attach
and remove easily when severe weather threatens
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When replacing your roof, take steps to ensure that both the new roof
covering and the sheathing it attaches to will resist high winds. Your
roofing contractor should:
- Remove old coverings down to the bare wood
- Remove enough sheathing to confirm that rafters and trusses are securely connected to the walls
- Replace damaged sheathing
- Properly refasten existing sheathing
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Install a roof covering designed to resist high winds
Act quickly, but don't panic
You can improve the odds of your home surviving high winds by taking these precautions, but you can't make it tornado-proof. While these measures won't guarantee the safety of your family and you, they can help keep the odds in your favor:
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Move anything in your yard that may become flying debris inside your
house or garage before a storm strikes. Do this only if authorities
have announced a tornado watch. If authorities have announced a tornado
warning, leave it all alone.
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Don't open your windows. You won't save the house, as once thought, and
you may actually make things worse by giving wind and rain a chance to
get inside.
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Don't try to ride out a tornado in a manufactured home.
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If your home has a storm cellar or in-residence "safe" room, go
there immediately. If your home has none and you have no time to get to
a community shelter, head to the centermost part of your basement or
home − away from windows and preferably under something sturdy like a
workbench or staircase. The more walls between you and the outside, the
better.
- Turn off all utilities.
- If you happen to be in your vehicle when a tornado hits, get out and try to find shelter inside a sturdy building. A ditch can provide shelter if nothing else is near. Don't take shelter under a bridge or overpass because these could be destroyed.
This information is meant to help you make decisions that may reduce your risk. Of course, we can't note every possible risk, and we can’t guarantee that these tips will work for you. However, we hope that if you use some of them, you'll better protect your family and yourself.
Contact your Nationwide insurance agent to make sure you're properly covered if a catastrophe strikes.
