With the very real potential of a tornado outbreak in the Tennessee Valley this weekend, it is CRUCIAL to know everything there is to know to keep you and your family safe, in the event of the worst-case scenario. You must be able to find yourself on a map. It’s also crucial to be aware of town names and county names to your south, west, and southwest. This is due to common west to east, or southwest to southeast storm motion. Simply being aware of the fact the next town over is in the path can give you even more time to prepare. Pictured below are the 14 counties we here at Tennessee Valley weather cover during tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings. If there are multiple warnings at once, we will do our best to still provide equal coverage to everyone. This weekend is going to be the type of weekend where if we are not talking about your location, you are *currently* safe. We may not have time to highlight those of you who are safe, as we sometimes are able to do.
If you are reading this before the end of the day Friday, you still have time to come up with a tornado safety plan. You will need to have multiple ways to get warnings. We could be dealing with power outages, cell phone outages, etc. so if your TV or phone stops working, you need a way to receive warnings. For that, I suggest a NOAA weather radio. If you have a smartphone, make sure your WEA Alerts are turned ON. You may have them turned off for various reasons- it’s the same alert system that sends AMBER Alerts to your phone. Make sure everything is turned on. Our FREE Tennessee Valley Weather App will also send push notifications of watch and warning information. It’s also important to have your location tracker on so these alerts know where to find you.
Knowing your tornado safety plan ahead of time and where you need to seek shelter, whether that’s in your home or at another location, will save you time and stress when you have to take action. I suggest knowing the location of the nearest storm shelter for anyone who does not have a basement, underground shelter or certified safe room. You may not have to go there, but knowing you have another option will help provide you peace of mind. If you are in a mobile or manufactured home, you WILL have to leave to properly seek shelter.
Historically, tornado related injuries and fatalities are a result of blunt-force head trauma. Since we know this, we know that wearing a helmet can help save your life in a worst-case scenario. If you do not have a bike or sports helmet, grab a pot from your kitchen cabinet. If that’s not an option, grab a large, thick, hardcover textbook. If that’s not an option, and as a last resort, grab a mattress or multiple pillows to cover yourself with. Create any sort of barrier you can between you and potential falling debris. Protecting your head and neck is a crucial step you need to take.
If you live in a mobile home, you need to LEAVE that structure in the event of a tornado warning AT THE LATEST. I suggest leaving your mobile home once a Tornado Watch is issued. That will give you much more time to arrive at your storm-safe location. Bonus points if you are able to simply spend the entire weekend away, beginning tonight.
If you know someone who lives in a mobile home, do your civic duty and open your home to them if you have adequate shelter options. Offer others a ride to the nearest shelter if you’re able. Now is the time to come together to help one another.
Here are clear best practices if a tornado warning is issued in your location. If you are at home or inside a building, go to the lowest floor, ideally underground like a basement or storm shelter. An above-ground certified safe room is a great place to shelter as well. If an underground room is not an option, go to the lowest level of the building, into a room as close to the center of the building as possible. No windows, and ideally put a room between you and the garage if possible. Bring items to protect your head and neck, as mentioned above. And as also mentioned above, leave mobile homes. IF you are driving and a tornado warning is issued, immediately start driving to the nearest building. ANY building is a better option than a vehicle. Be safe but efficient while driving. IF you can see the tornado, it may be too late to arrive at a more sturdy structure. If that is the case, LEAVE your vehicle. I know, it sounds counter-intuitive. Leave your vehicle and lie flat in a low lying area like a ditch. You have a better chance at survival there than in a vehicle. Think of it like this- a vehicle is just another piece of debris that will easily become airborne and tossed about. Being some degree under the flat level ground is your best option if it is too late to enter the nearest building.
I won’t elaborate much here, but this is another visual aid when considering tornado shelter options as you are making your safety plan. To find your nearest storm shelter, stay tuned to local EMA, City, or community Facebook pages. You can also go to https://findyourtornadoshelter.com/
Now that you know where you are going to seek shelter, you need to know what to bring with you. First of all, everyone, including pets, are all in the shelter. Dad is not on the porch trying to see the tornado. Pets are not forgotten. Bring an air horn or a whistle- something to alert first responders in a worst-case scenario and you are buried under debris. Bring batteries- charge up portable batteries for your mobile devices, bring extra batteries for your weather radio. Boots and footwear will help again in a worst case scenario, if you have to walk over debris. A first aid kit for minor injuries. A flashlight can be a way to visually alert first responders and can come in handy if the power goes out. Again, something to protect your head like a helmet and food and water for sustenance. Think a couple bottles of water and some snack bars.
PETS: If you have a hard-shell kennel, bring that into the shelter and put them inside. Bring a leash. Bring some extra food and water for them specifically. Make sure they have a collar on, bonus points if your contact information is engraved or even written in sharpie. You can get a new collar later…
We will be dealing with both watches and warnings Friday night through Saturday night. Know the difference and what they mean. A WATCH means pay attention. A WATCH is when you folks in mobile homes should head to your secondary location for shelter. A WATCH means the ingredients are there, but a threat is not currently ongoing. A WARNING means you are currently in danger. A WARNING means you seek shelter immediately. That’s why it’s important to have everything ready to go before hand. A WARNING means a tornado, or other hazard, has been spotted by someone’s eye, or is indicated in radar. Radar indicated warnings should be taken just as seriously, especially in rural areas when there simply may not be a high volume of people to put eyes on the hazard.
Preparation is key. We will get through this. Knowing your plan ahead of time will help you execute your plan in a successful way. You still have time to prepare. This is why we exist here at Tennessee Valley Weather. We are here to keep you safe. We will do our part. We need you to do yours, as well.
