In Oklahoma, less than 2% of tornadoes ever get that strong, and less than 1% are classified at the top of the scale - EF5. Violent tornadoes (EF4 and EF5) are very dangerous, but thankfully they’re also exceptionally rare. Figure out where you will go to be safe and go there long before the warning is issued for where you are. If you will have to drive to get to your shelter, plan ahead - you cannot wait until the warning is issued. If you live in a mobile home park, check to see if there is a community shelter on the property.Ĭheck with with co-workers, friends and family in the immediate area to see if they have a shelter that you can use, or even just a place to go where you would feel safer.ĭo not assume that public buildings are storm shelters. If you live in an apartment or rental housing, ask the manager if there is a shelter for residents to use, either on property or nearby. There are no safe areas in any mobile home and you should not attempt to shelter from a tornado in a mobile home. Look for a small room or closet on the lowest floor and away from outside walls, doors and windows. If you live in a well built home, there's probably a safe area in your home that would protect you from almost any tornado. Check with your local emergency manager or fire department to see if there are public storm shelters near you. Most communities in our area don't have public shelters, but some do. Understanding where the storms are and where they’re going can make severe weather much less stressful. Learn your local geography - nearby cities and towns, counties, interstates and highways - to make it easier to track the storms as they move through the area.You can also access free radar data on the National Weather Service website and on your favorite local TV station’s website. There are lots of apps that provide detailed radar data, and some of them will even plot your current location so you will always know where you are in relation to the storms. Find a way to see radar data and learn to track the storms yourself.Learn about your local warning systems in your community - sirens, mass notification systems, etc - and how they work.This can include local television, NOAA Weather Radio, phone apps, outdoor warning sirens, community notification systems, etc Make sure you have at least three different ways to get a warning.Develop a communication plan in case you are separated. Plan how you and your family will stay in contact in case you lose electricity, phone service, cable or satellite service, cell service or internet service.Put together a safety kit that has the supplies you would need if you had to take shelter. Practice getting you, your family and your pets to that safe place. On a sunny day with no storms in the forecast, figure out where you will take shelter if a tornado is coming your way. Make a tornado safety plan with your family.Meet the forecasters who are working around the clock to watch for dangerous weather and who have your back during severe weather. Visit your local National Weather Service office.If you have storm anxiety, these might make things worse. A small percentage of social media forecasts tend toward the extreme or worst case scenario when forecasting severe weather. Some are considered official sources, like the NWS, your favorite TV station or local TV meteorologist, or your local emergency management or public safety agencies in your community, and these are generally good places to get weather information. With social media, there are many sources of weather information to choose from. Many people who are afraid of storms want all the information they can get their hands on when severe weather is in the forecast.Attend a free NWS storm spotter training class to learn more about tornadoes and severe storms. Follow the National Weather Service severe weather outlooks and forecasts online and learn about the science that goes into those severe weather predictions. Understand how they are forecast and what the various watch, warning and advisory terms mean. If there is something that makes your fears worse that you can control, this might help you. For others, it’s the anticipation and uncertainty about what might happen to them or their family. For some people, it’s the sound of thunder, the flashes of lightning or the roar of the winds. Think about what stresses you out the most about severe weather.Planning and preparation puts you in control of your situation and can make the storms a little less scary. Advance preparation – thinking about where you will take shelter, making sure you have several ways to get weather warnings and information, and having a plan for you and your family – can help reduce your fear and stress levels when storms are in the area.Here are some things you can do to empower yourself and take more control over your weather fears:
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