How to Prepare for the 2021 Tornado Season
Spring brings flowers, warm breezes, and the cheery sounds of birdsong. It also brings severe weather--particularly, tornadoes. As severe weather continues to increase across the U.S., it is vital that you and your family are prepared to deal with these damaging storms. Here are three easy steps you can take to make sure you’re ready for this year’s tornado season.
1. Expect Power Outages
The situation you’re most likely to face when a tornado strikes is a power outage, lasting anywhere from several minutes to several days. Therefore, you should make sure your family is properly prepared. Have a power bank (or two) on hand to charge your mobile devices. Keep extra batteries stocked for flashlights. Better yet, get a flashlight that you can recharge with a hand crank or solar power. Emergency radios often have this feature as well, keeping you connected to important weather updates and information on emergency services in your area.
2. Stock Food and Water
If your power is out for a few days, you’ll need a supply of non-perishable food to fuel everyone in your household. Account for calories: the average adult requires about 2,000 a day. Canned meats and fish offer an easy way to get essential protein. Just make sure you have a manual can opener on hand and a camp stove to warm up the food.
If eating out of cans sounds less than appetizing, check out our selection of delicious freeze-dried foods and food bars. They’re packed with all the nutrients your family needs and designed for both comfort and convenience. By just adding a little warm water to our freeze-dried pouches, you could be dining on biscuits with gravy and beef stroganoff.
A tornado is unlikely to knock out your tap, but you’ll still want to have an emergency water supply on hand. Tornado damage to pipes and reservoirs is likely to contaminate your tap water.
3. Prepare for Injuries
Your biggest concern during a tornado is avoiding injuries. Tornadoes splinter homes and send debris flying at great speed, which can be deadly. If a tornado strikes your community, you’ll want to be prepared to tend to any injuries while awaiting emergency services. Make sure you’re stocked with a good first aid kit that includes antiseptic pads and bandages for treating wounds. Infection can quickly set in even with small cuts and scrapes, so don’t leave this one to chance.
Experts are predicting a severe tornado season this year, so make sure you’re taking these simple steps to prepare. During an emergency, supplies can become scarce and prices can skyrocket. With just a small investment of time and money now, you’ll be ready to handle any emergency that comes your way.
