Be Storm Ready

9/11/2019 (Permalink)

Any time you are under a tornado warning or watch you should always take the right precautions. A tornado will destroy anything in its path.

A major storm threat to houses comes from trees falling on them. Prune or thin the canopy of trees that are close to your house, so that wind can pass more easily through the branches without knocking them over. Remove branches facing your house to reduce weight on that side, since the tree is more likely to fall in the direction with more weight.

Identify top-heavy and tall furniture that are at risk of falling over, such as cabinets and bookcases. Secure them to the wall using L brackets, corner brackets, or aluminum molding. Secure or be ready to secure large appliances with flexible cable, braided wire, or metal strapping.

Prepare to board up your windows. All exterior windows and doors need to be secured no matter which side of the house they’re on, as tornadoes can approach from any direction. Boarding up your windows by attaching plywood, steel, or aluminum to the exterior wall may provide minimal protection in heavy winds, as the board can be torn away by winds getting under it. Duct tape and masking tape will also not prevent windows from breaking. If properly installed, specially developed screens and fabrics may help protect windows.