The tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri on Sunday, May 22nd was the deadliest single tornado in the United States since 1953. 2011 is on pace to be the deadliest tornado year in the US, according to the Insurance Journal.

There is a national average of 14 minutes between the time a tornado warning is issued and the time the tornado hits. Because of this short amount of time, it's vital to be prepared and knowledgeable about a tornado in advance.

Tornado Preparation Suggestions for Homeowners

• Making advance evacuation plans (including determining evacuation route, fueling car, preparing supplies, etc.)
• Being aware of the nearest, safe shelter
• Bring outdoor property inside the home (lawn equipment, toys, tools, etc.)
• Installing or building a proper "safe room"
• Cover/Secure all windows and doors
• Have a portable radio and stay turned to accurate source of weather broadcasts.
• Turn off (unplug) small appliances and turn refrigerators/freezers to their highest settings.
• If applicable, turn off fuel/oil tanks.

Tornado Preparation Suggestions for Small Businesses

• Check local flood maps by visiting http://www.fema.gov/hazard/index.shtm.
• Consider installing impact-resistant film on your windows.
• Gather a list of vendors and telephone numbers of individuals or entities that are critical to your daily operations. If you heavily rely on one or two vendors, consider adding a backup vendor outside of your area.
• Prepare a list of companies that can assist you in recovery efforts, such as removing debris, moving and computer services.
• Provide employees with a chain of command and list of responsibilities in the event that a disaster strikes.
• Prepare a list of your employees and their contact information. Also find out where they may vacate to, if you are required to evacuate the city.
• Arrange for communication with your clients and customers, in the event of a disaster, to keep them informed.
• Constantly diversify your customer base, products and sales locations. This will prevent a major loss, if a majority of your customer base is affected by the tornado as well.
• Designate a remote phone number on your voicemail system for which you can record messages to employees in the event of an emergency.
• Arrange for programmable call forwarding of your business lines with the phone company. Then you can call and reprogram your phones from a remote location, if needed.

• Install emergency backup lights that turn on when the power goes out.

• Back up your data on a frequent basis and keep this information off-site.

Emergency Supply Checklist

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-powered radio
• Ready-to-eat canned foods, fruits and vegetables. Also energy foods, such as granola bars. Select foods that do not require refrigeration, cooking or preparation.
• Water stored in plastic containers
• Keep a three-day supply of medications on-hand as well as pain relievers and stomach remedies.
• Blankets
• Paper plates, cups and utensils
• Manual can opener
• First-aid supplies:
  • Adhesive bandages
  • Sterile dressing
  • Roller gauze bandages
  • Triangular bandages
  • Gauze pads
  • Germicidal hand wipes and alcohol-based sanitizer
  • Non-latex gloves
  • Adhesive tape
  • Cold packs
  • Scissors

  • Tweezers

  • CPR face shield

Reducing Damage

• Bolt tall bookcases and displays to the wall studs.
• Secure breakable items in a stand using hook-and-loop fasteners.
• Place large objects on low shelving.
• Install latches on drawers to prevent them from flying open.

• Secure pictures and mirrors to the wall with closed screw eyes and wire.

• Secure your water heater to the wall studs with plumber’s tape or strap iron.

• Install flexible connectors to appliances using natural gas and automatic fire sprinklers.

Insurance Considerations

In addition to the various precautions that you should take in-house, you should also have adequate insurance coverage to protect against losses. Contact us to discuss your exact needs and potential coverages that are right for you.

Beyond your typical policies, you may also wish to purchase Flood Insurance. Also, conduct an inventory of your possessions including photographs of these items and descriptions. Then leave this information in an off-site location.

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