Severe Weather Safety: How To Prepare For A Tornado In An Apartment In Bloomington
Living in the Midwest, you can count on severe storms annually. Odds are, your area will even face a tornado warning at certain times. While everyone knows how to find safety in a house during a tornado, the guidance for individuals in apartments is less clear. When you don’t have a basement to seek refuge in, here’s how to prepare for a tornado in an apartment in Bloomington.
Tornado Warning? Where To Seek Shelter In Your Apartment Building
If the tornado alarms blare outside your Bloomington apartment, where should you go? Few apartments have basements. You may even reside on a higher level.
While few tornadoes are intense enough to demolish a sizeable apartment building, smaller twisters can still send debris through windows, remove roofs, or uproot trees. Always seek shelter during tornado warnings or high winds in one of these places:
- The sub-level of an underground parking garage
- The ground floor of your building, and far from windows
- A neighbor’s first-floor apartment
- Interior halls or stairwells without windows
- A closet or interior room of your apartment
- Under a sturdy table
- Inside the bathtub with a thick blanket for protection
When you shelter, put on a bicycle helmet or protect your head with an oversized pillow.
Prepare In Advance For Severe Weather
The most effective way to prepare for a tornado in your apartment in Bloomington is to keep up with weather alerts and have a strategy ready. Your plan ought to incorporate some critical supplies if you are confined to your home or must depart quickly. Select a designated spot to store your emergency kit and include these items:
- Handheld radio
- Flashlight
- Spare batteries
- Spare set of car and apartment keys
- Mobile phone charger
- Cash
- Emergency medical kit
- Photocopy of your ID
- Non-perishable snacks
- Sealed water
- Essential medications
- Pet essentials
Check these items every six months to verify they still work, and replace the water and food items. When you hear a tornado warning, take appropriate clothing and shoes with you when taking cover.
Severe winds can easily damage electrical lines in your area. For power failures, keep these supplies at the ready:
- Non-perishable food that doesn’t need to be cooked
- Battery-operated lights
- A power bank for charging your phone
When you’re fully prepped, you’ll handle any emergency better and feel more confident.
What You Shouldn’t Do During A Tornado
Everybody assumes it couldn’t possibly happen to them. You can reduce the risk of injury or worse during severe weather by avoiding certain situations. Take cover right away and don’t
- Ride an elevator during a tornado
- Watch out the window
- Venture outdoors
- Shelter under shelves, heavy decor, or tall furniture pieces like bookcases
Make City Flats on Tenth Your Home Regardless Of The Weather!
We can’t prevent tornadoes, but we can provide an incredible apartment living experience at City Flats on Tenth! You’ll feel completely at ease in one of our roomy apartments accompanied by life-enhancing amenities in a welcoming community. Dial 812-561-1974 or arrange a tour to explore why we’re a preferred place to reside in Bloomington.