Tornado Safety Tips: A Checklist for Tornado Season April 11, 2022 A tornado can strike at any time, so it’s important to prepare before one hits. As we roll into tornado season, it is always a good idea to be weather aware. In this blog, we provide a tornado safety checklist that you and your family can reference. This checklist will help you stay safe and knowledgeable during a tornado watch or warning. Do You Know the Difference? The first thing to know when preparing your family and home for the tornado season is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. If a tornado watch is in the area, it means a tornado is possible and to stay alert and ready to head to safety when needed. A tornado warning means one has already been spotted or is in the process of forming and getting to safety immediately is strongly recommended. Tornado Safety Checklist: There are many actions you can take to prepare for a tornado. First, take some time with your family to discuss an emergency plan and consider adding the following steps: Stay tuned in to the local news or weather radio station for tornado watches and warnings. Know the best places to take shelter during a tornado. Usually, the best place is in a basement or an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building away from windows. Find a local emergency shelter and make sure to know the best routes to get there safely. If you are in a mobile home or vehicle, get out immediately and find shelter in a nearby building. Do not try to outrun a tornado in a car. Cover yourself with something like a mattress or blanket to protect yourself from flying debris. If you are outside, find a ditch or low-lying area and lie down in it, covering your head with your hands. What Should You Do After a Tornado? When the tornado has passed and your family is able to safely leave shelter, ensure to follow up with local authorities on the best route to get home. There could be severe damage to surrounding areas and different roads could be blocked. Continue to tune in to local news and weather radio for further guidance. By following these tornado safety tips, you can help keep yourself and your family safe during a tornado. As the severe weather season approaches, consider getting in touch with your local OKFB Insurance agent to ensure you have the coverage you need. Don’t forget to follow us on social media! This type of information and more is just a click away. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Your protection is our top priority. Stay safe Oklahoma!
How to Prepare for a Tornado July 1, 2021 With Oklahoma falling right in tornado alley, it’s critical to know how to prepare for a tornado. Tornadoes can occur suddenly and they can be destructive, so knowing how to prepare and what to do can help you and your loved ones stay safe. As tornado season begins, consider these ways to prepare for a tornado. Set and Inform Your Plan To ensure you and your family are safe, you can create a “what to do if a tornado hits” plan. This plan could include where to take shelter, who is responsible for gathering food and supplies, where to locate the radio and batteries and more. If you’re unsure about the security of your home, you may consider adding a storm shelter. Having your household on the same page can help ensure you react in a timely manner. Create a Checklist and Store Necessities Creating a checklist and storing some basic items can help you stay on track and not forget any critical items. Be sure to include: Batteries Weather radio Cell phone charger Flashlight Food A fun game or coloring pages to keep the little ones or even yourself entertained Know the Warning Signs Luckily, we have the technology and the National Weather Service to warn us if a tornado is coming or developing. However, it is always good to know the warning signs if there is a chance of a tornado. Hail or heavy rain followed by fast and intense winds or followed by eerie quiet and calm Loud rumbling that could sound like thunder, but is continuous. Some describe it as sounding like a freight train If the sky begins to look dark and green A cloud of debris, even if it doesn’t resemble a funnel A funnel-shaped cloud “I stepped outside before the tornado actually got there, and I could hear it coming but couldn’t tell how far away it was. Well, of course it went right through, real fast. After it settled down, I peeped outside the window and walked outside, and saw the cars were crushed,” said Billy Gibson, one of our policyholders. Watch how OKFB helped Billy after a tornado hit his home. Learn the Weather Terms Two notable terms to know are tornado watch and tornado warning. A tornado watch signifies that the current weather is capable of producing a tornado. While a tornado warning signifies that one has been sighted or seen on a radar. When a tornado warning is issued you are highly advised to seek shelter. Understanding this difference can help you know what to do. As you create plans and checklists, remember to check-in with your OKFB agent to ensure your home and vehicles are protected under your Home Insurance and Auto Insurance policies. You focus on staying safe and prepared, and we’ll worry about protecting your assets.
Safety Tips for Severe Weather April 24, 2020 A storm can be thrilling to watch, but knowing when to take action and seek shelter could save your life in the case of a severe storm. As we go through another storm season, keep these safety and awareness tips top of mind when bracing for severe weather. Understand Storm Alerts Weather services label storms with a “watch” or “warning” to describe the potential threat to an area. A “watch” means conditions could potentially lead to the development of a storm. A “warning” means a storm has already developed and has been spotted nearby. Most times, a warning warrants taking shelter immediately. When assigning watches and warnings, the National Weather Service typically uses county names to inform people of the location. This means that knowing the name of your county and surrounding counties will be helpful in identifying when a storm may be approaching your area. Prepare your Home There are many precautions you can take to protect and prepare your home for storm season. Consider the following preparations if a severe storm prediction is in your area and you have time: Identify your sheltering place. If you don’t have a storm shelter, take cover in an interior room with no windows that is on the ground level. Charge your phones and computers before the storm is near in case you lose power. Bring the pets inside to ensure their safety. Bring in any outdoor furniture that could be blown around or damaged. Close and shutter windows. Unplug high-dollar appliances and computers in case of a power surge. Have an emergency plan and ensure all members of the household are aware of it. Stock up on Supplies Make sure to have non-perishable emergency supplies, like batteries, first aid supplies, a flashlight, a portable weather radio and a three-day supply of water and food. While you’re stocking up on emergency supplies, it’s also beneficial to compile a grocery list of non-perishable food. One can never be sure of the extent of damage a storm may cause, so being prepared for the worst-case scenario is the best case. What to Avoid Avoid using corded phones, electrical equipment, and even doing the dishes or taking a shower during a storm. Lightning can travel through lines, electrical systems and plumbing. According to the CDC, about one-third of injuries caused by a lightning strike happen indoors. Also, be sure to stay away from windows, doors and concrete walls or floors. Most are reinforced by metal bars or webbing, which could allow lightning to travel through. What to do During and After a Storm As a storm is passing through, try to stay calm and alert. Make sure to take cover in your designated shelter if your area is under a warning. Be mindful that many facilities and hospitals will not be able to offer public shelter during severe weather at this time due to social distancing practices. Have a place in mind that you know you can access for safety. If your power goes out, use your phone or radio to listen for updates on the location and severity of the storm. After a storm passes, watch out for downed power lines, fallen tree branches and other debris that could be around. Once you’ve checked for damage and feel safe, be sure to check in on friends and loved ones that may have sustained damage as well. Preparing for storm season is the best thing you can do to ensure your safety. Talk to your agent to make sure your personal property is covered in the case of storm damage.
