Stay Weather Safe: How To Prepare For A Tornado In An Apartment In Westfield
Residing in the Midwest, you can anticipate dangerous weather each year. Odds are, your region will even face a tornado warning from time to time. While most people know how to find safety in a house when tornado sirens go off, the advice for apartment dwellers is not as straightforward. If you don’t have a basement to retreat to, here’s how to prepare for a tornado in an apartment in Westfield.
Tornado Warning? Where To Seek Shelter In Your Apartment Building
When the tornado alerts blare outside your Westfield apartment, where can you take shelter? Few apartments have basements. You might not even live on the bottom floor.
While not many tornadoes are powerful enough to destroy a large apartment building, smaller twisters can still rip out trees, take off roofs, or propel debris through windows. You must take cover during high winds or tornado warnings in one of these locations:
- A below-grade level of your parking garage
- The ground floor of your apartment building, and not close to windows
- A ground-floor neighbor’s apartment
- Interior stairwells or halls with no windows
- An interior room or closet of your apartment
- Below a heavy table
- In the bathtub with a thick blanket for protection
When you shelter, wear a bike helmet or cover your head with a large pillow for additional protection.
Prepare In Advance For Severe Weather
The most effective way to prepare for a tornado in your apartment in Westfield is to stay weather aware and plan in advance. Your plan ought to incorporate some emergency supplies if you become trapped in your home or must evacuate. Choose a dedicated spot to stow your emergency preparedness kit and pack these supplies:
- Portable radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Extra set of house and car keys
- Cell phone charger
- Money
- First aid kit
- Photocopy of your license or identification card
- Shelf-stable snacks
- Sealed water
- Essential medications
- Pet essentials
Inspect your emergency kit at six-month intervals to verify they still work, and replace the water and food items. When a tornado warning sounds, take appropriate clothing and shoes with you when sheltering.
Strong winds can easily take out electrical lines in your neighborhood. For blackouts, keep these supplies at the ready:
- Shelf-stable food that doesn’t need to be cooked
- Battery-powered lights
- A power bank for powering your cell phone
When you’re fully prepped, you’ll weather any situation better and feel more reassured.
What To Avoid During A Tornado
Most people believe it won’t happen to them. You can reduce the risk of bodily harm or worse in a tornado by avoiding unnecessary danger. Take shelter immediately and don’t
- Use an elevator during a tornado warning
- Track the storm by looking out the window
- Venture outdoors
- Take shelter under tall furnishings, shelves, or heavy decor
Make Wheelhouse Your Home In All Kinds Of Weather!
We can’t prevent a storm, but we can give you an exceptional apartment lifestyle at Wheelhouse Apartments on the Monon! You’ll feel completely at ease in one of our roomy apartments surrounded by stunning amenities in a welcoming community. Contact 463-223-4309 or schedule a tour to explore why we’re a preferred place to come home to in Westfield.