American Red Cross Delmarva Peninsula


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The American Red Cross recommends that families prepare for tornado season using the following safety tips:

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit
Containing:

Prepare a Home Tornado Plan

Pick a place where family members can gather, away from windows. It could be a basement or a center hallway, bathroom or closet on the lowest floor. Keep this area uncluttered.
If you are in a high-rise building and don't have enough time to go to the lowest floor, pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building. Share this plan with all family members, and practice twice a year.

When a Storm Threatens

Listen for storm warnings on your local TV and radio stations and follow advisories.
If outside, try to get inside a sturdy building. If a building is not available, crouch in a ditch or low-lying area that is not subject to flooding.
If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and head to safety. (Contrary to folklore, it is not safe to get underneath a highway overpass.)

Reduce High Wind Damage to your Home :

Consult with a professional about ways to reduce potential damage to your roof and garage doors.
Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.
Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trashcans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile.

Prepare your Business :

Have a Disaster Supplies Kit on hand, including a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone alert feature. Keep it on and when the signal sounds, listen for information about severe weather and protective actions to take. Back up computer data frequently and keep a backup tape off site. Use UL-listed surge protectors and battery backup systems. Consult with your insurance agent about precautions to take for disasters that may directly impact your business - including business continuity insurance.
Keep phone lists of your key employees and customers with you, and provide lists to key employees.
Arrange for programmable call forwarding for your main business line(s). Then, if you can't get to the office, you can call in and reprogram the phones to ring elsewhere.