Stay Weather Safe: How To Prepare For A Tornado In An Apartment In West Lafayette
Residing in the Midwest, you can expect extreme weather every year. Odds are, your area will even experience a tornado warning from time to time. While most people know how to shelter in a house when tornado sirens sound, the advice for those in apartments is less clear. If you don’t have a basement to retreat to, here’s how to prepare for a tornado in an apartment in West Lafayette.
Tornado Sirens? Where To Seek Shelter In Your Apartment Building
If the tornado sirens go off outside your West Lafayette apartment, where do you seek shelter? Not many apartments have below-ground levels. You may even reside on a higher level.
While not many tornadoes are intense enough to demolish a sizeable apartment building, smaller ones can still rip out trees, tear off roofs, or propel loose debris through windows. Be sure to find shelter during strong winds or tornado warnings in one of these places:
- An underground level of your parking garage
- The ground floor of your building, and not close to windows
- A neighbor’s first-floor apartment
- Interior halls or stairwells with no windows
- An interior room or closet of your apartment
- Under a heavy table
- Within the bathtub with a thick blanket for protection
When you hunker down, don a bicycle helmet or cover your head with an oversized pillow for extra protection.
Prepare In Advance For Severe Weather
The smartest way to prepare for a tornado in your apartment in West Lafayette is to stay weather aware and plan ahead. Your plan ought to incorporate some emergency supplies if you get stuck in your home or must depart quickly. Select a designated location to store your emergency kit and pack the following:
- Battery-powered radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Spare set of car and apartment keys
- Smartphone charger
- Money
- First aid kit
- Photocopy of your ID
- Non-perishable snacks
- Bottles of water
- Crucial medications
- Pet supplies
Inspect your supplies twice a year to verify they still work, and replace the water and food items. When a tornado warning is issued, take appropriate clothing and shoes with you when taking cover.
Strong winds can easily take out electrical lines in your area. For power outages, keep these supplies on hand:
- Shelf-stable food that you don’t need to cook
- Battery-operated lights
- A power bank for your cell phone
When you’re fully prepped, you’ll weather any emergency better and feel more reassured.
What To Avoid During A Tornado
Everyone believes it will never happen to them. You can avoid injuries or worse during a storm by playing it smart. Seek shelter immediately and don’t
- Ride an elevator during a tornado
- Look out the window
- Venture outdoors
- Take cover under tall furniture pieces like bookcases, shelves, or heavy wall art
Make Continuum Your Home Regardless Of The Weather!
We can’t stop storms from happening, but we can give you an incredible apartment living experience at Continuum Apartments! You’ll feel completely at ease in one of our distinctive apartments surrounded by modern amenities in a beautiful community. Contact (765) 476-0886 or arrange a tour to explore why we’re a preferred place to reside in West Lafayette.