What to do in a hurricane, tornado or storm, so as not to suffer
Miscellaneous / / April 05, 2023
These simple rules will allow you to prepare for the impact of the elements and survive it without serious losses.
Hurricane - a powerful atmospheric vortex of large sizes with wind speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour. Its variant is storm. This is a sustained wind with a speed of more than 20 meters per second, which is usually observed during the passage of a cyclone and is accompanied by strong waves at sea and destruction on land.
Tornado, or tornado, is also an atmospheric vortex, but in the form of a cloud sleeve or trunk with a diameter of tens and hundreds of meters. It originates in a thundercloud and extends down, often to the very surface of the earth.
The destructive wind and heavy rain that accompanies hurricanes, storms and tornadoes often cause loss of life and cause serious damage to property. Here are some simple tips to help protect yourself from the violence of the elements.
What to do before a hurricane, tornado or storm
For heavy winds and showers, you need to prepare in advance. Here's what to do.
Prepare the essentials
Assemble in advance alarm case in case of emergency evacuation. Put documents, money, bank cards, power bank, spare smartphone, duplicate house and car keys, a first aid kit and any prescription drugs you need, a signal whistle, a flashlight and batteries. Leave this bag in an easily accessible place.
Have a home stock canned food and drinking water for a few days in case you find yourself locked inside. Hurricanes are often accompanied by downpours and floods, but the water left after them should not be drunk because it can contain pathogenic bacteria, chemical impurities and dirt. Also take care of food and medicine for pets.
Prepare warm waterproof clothing. Buy a fire extinguisher, because hurricanes often lead to a broken electrical wiring, and there may be fire. Stock up on fuel for the car in case you have to evacuate urgently.
Prepare your home
If you live in an area where storms and hurricanes often occur, you must take action in advance to minimize damage. Here's what to do:
- Equip windows and glass doors with storm shutters. Another option is to prepare sheets of thick plywood, cut to size beforehand, so that you can quickly nail them at the right time.
- Make sure the roof is secure. If necessary, strengthen it with additional straps and clips so that the coating does not blow off the wind. Thoroughly clean gutters and pipes to prevent possible flooding. Fasten them tight.
- Cut trees and shrubs in the area in a timely manner: Broken branches can be a hazard during a hurricane.
- Consider making a room in your home with reinforced walls.. Such shelters, for example, are quite popular in USA. Inside, you can provide a toilet and place food supplies. A basement can also be used as a shelter.
- Build a deep drain well in the basement and drainage ditches around the structure to avoid flooding.
- Keep valuables on high enough and secure shelvesto prevent damage in case of floods. Send any household chemicals there, tightly closing them.
Get the knowledge you need
A hurricane can damage pipes and cables, so make sure everyone in your household knows how to turn off the electricity, gas, and water in your home.
Check with local authorities or emergency services for evacuation plans and the location of shelters. Learn to render first aid This will come in handy in any emergency situations.
What to do in case of a hurricane, tornado or storm, if you are at home
A storm warning is transmitted through the media after the “Attention everyone!” Signal, as well as via SMS. If you receive this while at home, follow these steps: actions:
- Close windows, doors and atticsas well as ventilation openings and dormer windows. A stream of moist air is a good conductor of electrical current from lightning, so you should not run it into the house.
- Remove things and plants in pots from balconies, loggias and window sills. Shield windows and glass doors with storm shutters or plywood. Seal them with tape or strips of paper not worth it: this will not provide proper protection from the wind, but if the glass breaks, the sharp pieces will be larger and can seriously cut someone.
- Turn off the gas and put out the fire in the stove or fireplace. Prepare emergency lighting, such as lanterns or candles.
- Fill bottles, sinks or tubs with water in case of unexpected outages.
- Bring in all loose objects from the street: furniture, bicycles, toys, garden tools. Move the vehicle to a garage or other shelter.
- Unplug electronics. TV, refrigerator and other electrical appliances may get injured during thunderstorms and due to a cable break in strong winds.
- Shut off gas and water. Water and gas pipes can be damaged by a hurricane and leak. Do not touch them with your hands during a thunderstorm: they can also conduct atmospheric electricity. Do not use a stovetop. Close propane tanks if you have them.
- Don't stand in front of windowsso that you are not hurt by flying glasses and are not struck by lightning. The best thing accommodate in the basement or cellar, in the center of an interior room, in the hallway, in the bathroom, toilet, pantry, in a solid closet or under a table. You can also hide in the entrance or on the stairs, but do not go into elevator, because the building may be de-energized.
- Leave your radio or walkie-talkie on: They can transmit important information. If you do not have such devices, connect wired headphones to your smartphone - most mobile devices can pick up FM radio signals.
- Don't ignore the evacuation warning. Listen to the radio all the time and follow the messages on the Internet. If staying at home becomes dangerous and the authorities announce the need to leave the disaster area, be prepared to evacuate to the declared safe area. Don't forget to bring pets, your alarming suitcase, warm clothes, supplies of water and canned food for a couple of days.
What to do in case of a hurricane, tornado or storm, if the elements caught you on the street
If you do not have time to get home, take following:
- Take cover in the entrance or basement of the nearest building, if possible.
- If you are in a vehicle, leave it and find somewhere to hide from the storm. The car can be turned over by the wind, and it is better to be away from it at this moment. Do not park your vehicle under trees, billboards, street lighting poles, or other objects that may fall.
- If there is no shelter nearby, quickly lie down on the bottom of any depression.: ditches, pits, ravine, foundation pit or roadside ditch. Press firmly to the ground. Cover your head with a bag, briefcase, board, or something else to protect it from falling objects. Protect eyes cloth to keep debris and dust out.
- Stay away from buildings and trees, bridges and overpasses, pavilions and other objects that the wind can bring down. Keep away from places where chemicals or flammable substances can be stored. Don't stand on uplands.
- Move away from poles, masts, trees and high fences. Otherwise, they may fall on your head. In addition, tall free-standing objects are a good target for lightning, remember this.
- Stay away from broken electrical wires, as well as to metal structures, pipes and water surfaces.
What to do after a hurricane, tornado or storm
Do not go outside immediately after the wind has eased, because after a few minutes the storm may play out with renewed vigor. Keep an eye on the situation and stay in cover until the authorities report that the weather has returned to normal.
When the hurricane will end, make sure the house is not smells like gas. Do not light a fire until you are certain that there is no leakage.
Do not use electrical appliances until you are sure they are dry. Do not connect them to the network until the light stops flashing.
Be careful when walking around broken power lines as they may be live. Beware of fallen trees, swinging banners, signs and billboards.
When you clean up your house after a storm, be careful. Wear heavy rubber gloves, protective clothing and footwear to prevent injury or infection. Be especially careful with glass shards, electrical wiring and pipes. Children should not help during house cleaning.
If the hurricane was accompanied by flooding, do not go into flood waters - there may be electrical cables, dangerous chemicals, or disease-causing bacteria.
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