Auston Grove Apartment Homes Blog

Tornado Safety: Best Location in an Apartment

Tornadoes are very quick and usually come without much notice, having your plan in place will protect you and the items in your apartment. First and foremost, once you hear that there is a possible tornado near your apartment, or that the conditions are right for a tornado, move to shelter immediately.

If you live in an apartment that is on an upper floor, get to the lowest level of the building that you can immediately. This could be an underground parking garage or a neighbor’s first floor apartment. If you live in a high-rise apartment building, you may not have enough time to get to a lower level, so picking a place in the hallway in the center of your building is the best idea. A closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot in your apartment during a tornado.

Also ask your apartment leasing manager if there are any storm shelters in your complex or building.

Tornado Safety: Other Apartment Safety Tips

Once you have relocated to your safe place, lie down on the floor and cover yourself up with pillows, blankets and even mattresses for protection from falling objects and debris. If your apartment’s safe place has a heavy piece of furniture, such as a large table, get under that for extra protection. Wearing a bicycle or similar helmet will help protect your head from injuries caused by flying debris.

It is also a great idea to keep an evacuation kit handy. This kit should include a portable radio, flashlight with extra batteries, credit card and cash, first aid kit, spare set of keys, personal identification and anything else of importance or of value to you. Having all of this together near the safe place of your apartment will save you time and worry during a tornado threat.

Tornado Safety: After the Tornado

If a tornado does come near your apartment, please use extreme caution when exiting your home. Watch out for fallen utility lines and tree limbs that may not have fallen yet. Make sure that everyone is alright and provide assistance to your neighbors that may need attention. Finally, remember to take pictures of damage to your property for your insurance claim.

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Tips on What to Do Before and During a Tornado

More than 243 twisters have flattened towns across the Midwest and the South, from Oklahoma to Virginia, since Thursday. Some areas were hit with flash floods and hail.  Here are tips you can follow to stay safe before and during one of these fierce storms.

Before the Storm
Tornadoes are quick-moving, fierce storms that can strike with little or no warning, and can change direction at any moment.

Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning: A tornado watch means weather conditions are right for a tornado to form in your area, whereas a tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted and may be headed for your area.

Pay Attention to Warnings
When the NWS sends out any tornado alerts or warnings, tune to the NWS radio, FEMA said. The station is dedicated to giving 24/7 updates on current weather conditions. Your local radio and TV stations will also announce NWS alerts.

Even if a tornado watch is issued for your area, stay inside and be aware of changing weather conditions.

Watch the Skies
Sometimes it's as simple as looking out your window. FEMA advises that as long as the storm hasn't already hit, check the sky for the following danger signs:

•  Dark, often green sky
•  Large hail
•  Large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
•  Strong wind that sound like a loud roar. It's often been described as similar to a freight train