Severe Weather Safety: How To Prepare For A Tornado In An Apartment In Bloomington
Living in the Midwest, you can anticipate dangerous weather every year. Odds are, your area 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 those in apartments is not as straightforward. When you don’t have a lower level to go to, here’s how to prepare for a tornado in an apartment in Bloomington.
Tornado Warning? Where To Shelter In Your Apartment Building
When the tornado alarms sound outside your Bloomington apartment, where can you seek shelter? Few apartments have basements. You might not even live on the bottom floor.
While a small number of tornadoes are powerful enough to destroy a large apartment building, smaller ones can still propel objects through windows, tear away roofs, or rip out trees. Always take cover during high winds or tornado warnings in one of these spots:
- An underground level of your parking garage
- The lowest floor of your apartment building, and away from windows
- A neighbor’s first-floor apartment
- Interior halls or stairwells without windows
- An interior room or closet of your apartment
- Underneath a solid table
- Within the bathtub with a heavy blanket as protection
When you find a place to shelter, wear a bike helmet or cover your head with a large pillow for added protection.
Be Prepared For Severe Weather
The best 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 needs to incorporate some critical supplies if you get stuck in your home or must leave quickly. Choose a designated location to store your emergency preparedness kit and include the following:
- Portable radio
- Flashlight
- Additional batteries
- Extra set of house and car keys
- Mobile phone charger
- Money
- Emergency medical kit
- Photocopy of your driver’s license
- Non-perishable snacks
- Sealed water
- Crucial medications
- Pet essentials
Check these items twice a year to verify they still operate, and replenish the water and food items. When you hear a tornado warning, take proper shoes and clothing with you when taking cover.
Severe winds can easily take out power lines in your community. For power failures, keep these items ready:
- Shelf-stable food that doesn’t need cooking
- Battery-operated lights
- A power bank for powering your cell phone
When you’re ready, you’ll handle any storm better and feel more reassured.
What You Shouldn’t Do During A Tornado
Most people think it couldn’t possibly happen to them. You can avoid injuries or worse during severe weather by playing it smart. Take cover as soon as possible and don’t
- Get on an elevator during heavy winds
- Watch out the window
- Go outdoors
- Take shelter under tall furniture pieces like bookcases, shelves, or heavy decor
Make City Flats on Walnut Your Home In All Kinds Of Weather!
We can’t prevent tornadoes, but we can give you an incredible apartment lifestyle at City Flats on Walnut! You’ll feel completely at ease in one of our distinctive apartments complemented by stunning amenities in a welcoming community. Contact 812-578-8827 or arrange a tour to explore why we’re a desirable place to come home to in Bloomington.