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!
6 Best Storm Season Safety Hacks February 25, 2022 Oklahomans know that storm season is no joke. Even mild storms can often lead to long power outages and even cause damage to your home. Stocking up on batteries and snacks are must-dos, but here are some next-level storm season safety hacks that will help with maintaining some normalcy and keeping your family safe if you’re affected by Oklahoma’s notorious spring weather. Turn a can of cooking oil into a candle in an emergency. First, place a string or piece of cotton into the middle of a can of cooking oil. Then, all you have to do is light it! This trick also works with lard. (Be careful!) Keep cool without air conditioning. It can be a good idea in the summer to fill up empty two-liters with water and keep them in the freezer. If the power goes out, place one frozen two-liter in front of a battery-operated fan and sit directly in front of it for a DIY air conditioner. Dogs and thunderstorms are sometimes not a good mix, but it might not be for the reason you think! Static electricity can build up in their fur. Rub a dryer sheet over your dog’s fur to help alleviate the static and calm him or her down. Run out of AA batteries for flashlights or other electronics? There is a way to convert AAA batteries with a ball of foil. Try inserting a ball of foil between the negative end of the AAA battery and the device to generate power. In a pinch, the washer and dryer serve as good storage spaces for valuables in case of flooding. Make a milk jug lantern. First, simply remove the label from a milk jug and fill it with water. Then, strap a headlight onto the jug with the light facing inward. The jug will create a soft light that will illuminate the room. While storms can sometimes catch us off guard, it’s a good idea to plan ahead when possible. Before a storm rolls in, check out our storm prep checklist: Charge up phones and electronics. Check the sump pump, and make sure it’s working properly in case of flooding. Clear the gutters. See if there is a way to keep water from flowing down the side of your home and causing damage. Trim your trees. This could help ensure your home and vehicles will not be damaged by falling branches. Secure outdoor furniture. Oklahoma winds are strong enough to blow away or damage unsecured furniture, grills and playground equipment. Fill up the gas tank. This way you and your loved ones can move to a safer location if needed. Check the emergency kit. Then, replenish any missing supplies and important medications. Purchase a hand crank emergency radio. This could come in handy and keep you informed if the power goes out. In addition to these storm season hacks, don’t forget to read up on a few storm season safety tips and additional ways to prepare for a tornado. Along with staying safe, remember to contact your local OKFB agent to talk through your coverage in the case of a tornado or severe weather. We have agents in all 77 counties and ready to help whenever, wherever. See how one of our agents, Billy Gibson, took care of Carl Holmes and his other policyholders when a tornado went through this town three years ago. 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.
Benefits of a Storm Shelter May 8, 2019 When a tornado or storm strikes, do you and your family have a safe place to take shelter? Are you able to get there in seconds? A safe room or storm shelter can provide an extra layer of protection during a destructive storm, but this isn’t the only benefit. If you don’t currently have one, or don’t know the value it can provide, check out the following benefits of a storm shelter Easily Accessible One of the main benefits of a storm shelter is that it is within or very close to you, so everyone in the household can get to it easily. Having one on your property means you eliminate the risk of trying to travel to a storm shelter down the street or in the area. A designated storm shelter also reassures you and your family know where to go before a storm or tornado strikes. Storm Shelter Built to Fit Your Family Storm shelters come in a variety of designs and sizes, plus there is even the option of a custom design to fit your unique needs. If your family has to travel to a community storm shelter, there is the possibility that it will be full and you may have to split up. Additionally, if a family member has unique needs, such as a wheelchair accessible storm shelter, an above-ground storm shelter can meet that need. Protection for Valuables Severe storms, especially those that spin up tornadoes, can damage or even totally destroy a home and its contents. A storm shelter in your home can serve as a safe place not only for members of your family, but also for valuable items. From jewelry to pictures, storm shelters can help protect your most precious valuables. Stocked for Emergencies Your storm shelter is a great place to store any emergency supplies you may need in case of a tornado or other severe storm. Consider including first aid items, extra clothing, water, food, medication and any important documents. Taking the steps to prepare an emergency kit for your shelter can help make this an area of refuge. We hope you will consider investing in a storm shelter if you don’t already have one. Even if you never have to use it, a storm shelter in your home can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones. As an added bonus, OKFB members are eligible to receive several discounts on storm shelters. Learn more about this storm shelter discount, and contact your OKFB Insurance agent to talk about the right level of homeowners or flood insurance before storm season is in full swing.
