Severe Weather Safety: How To Prepare For A Tornado In An Apartment In Sylvania
If you live in the Midwest, you can anticipate dangerous weather each year. Chances are, your locale will even have a tornado warning at certain times. While most people know how to find safety in a house when tornado sirens go off, the advice for people in apartments is not as straightforward. In case you don’t have a lower level to seek refuge in, here’s how to prepare for a tornado in an apartment in Sylvania.
Tornado Sirens? Where To Shelter In Your Apartment Building
If the tornado alerts sound outside your Sylvania apartment, where can you seek shelter? A limited number of apartments have lower levels. You may not even live on the bottom floor.
While not many tornadoes are intense enough to demolish a large apartment building, smaller tornadoes can still uproot trees, remove roofs, or propel objects through glass. Always seek shelter during tornado warnings or strong winds in one of these locations:
- An underground level of your parking garage
- The bottom floor of your building, and away from windows
- A neighbor’s first-floor apartment
- Interior stairwells or halls without windows
- A windowless room or closet of your apartment
- Below a heavy table
- In the bathtub with a heavy blanket for protection
When you find a place to shelter, wear a bike helmet or cover your head with an oversized pillow for added protection.
Prepare Ahead Of Time For Severe Weather
The best way to prepare for a tornado in your apartment in Sylvania is to monitor weather conditions and plan ahead. Your plan needs to incorporate critical supplies if you get stuck in your home or need to leave quickly. Choose a specific spot to store your emergency kit and include these supplies:
- Battery-powered radio
- Flashlight
- Spare batteries
- Backup set of apartment and car keys
- Cell phone charger
- Money
- Emergency medical kit
- Photocopy of your license or identification card
- Shelf-stable snacks
- Bottles of water
- Vital medications
- Pet supplies
Check your supplies twice a year to ensure they still work, and switch out the water and food items. When you hear a tornado warning, take shoes and appropriate clothing with you when taking cover.
Tornadoes can easily damage electrical lines in your neighborhood. For power outages, keep these items at the ready:
- Shelf-stable food that you don’t need to cook
- Battery-powered lights
- A power bank for your phone
When prepared, you’ll handle any situation 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 a tornado by playing it smart. Take shelter as soon as possible and don’t
- Ride an elevator during heavy winds
- Track the storm by looking out the window
- Go outdoors
- Take shelter under shelves, heavy decor, or tall furnishings
Make SOMO Your Home Regardless Of The Weather!
We can’t prevent a storm, but we can give you an outstanding apartment lifestyle at SOMO Flats! You’ll feel completely at ease in one of our distinctive apartments complemented by modern amenities in a beautiful community. Dial 419-843-0855 or arrange a tour to explore why we’re a desirable place to reside in Sylvania.