Storm Readiness Tips for Homeowners

May is usually the most active month for storms, and Oklahoma City is hit with more of them than any other city in the U.S. Whether you’ve experienced a tornado and seen the images of the storms, you know it’s something to be taken seriously. Homes By Taber wants everyone to stay safe when one of these powerful storms hits your area. Please use these storm readiness tips to prepare for Oklahoma’s tornado season.

Know where to seek shelter. Don’t wait till a tornado warning is issued. Be ready to go to a safe place. If you don’t have a storm shelter on your property, identify a safe place in your home as your shelter room. This area should be the lowest and most central space in your home, like a basement or closet. Stay as far away from walls and windows as possible that might be blown in. 

If you don’t have a safe place to sit out the storm, learn in advance the location of emergency shelters in your area.

Taber LeBlanc decided a long time ago that a storm shelter should be a standard feature in every new home in Oklahoma. Safety is not an option, so Homes By Taber includes a storm shelter in the garage of every home we build. If you don’t have a storm shelter, consider installing one!

Prepare a tornado emergency kit. 

Be ready to respond quickly when a storm alert is issued. Keep a tornado kit fully stocked and ready to grab when you need it. Your emergency supplies should include: 

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• Identification, including copies of bank account records and insurance policies, packed in a waterproof bag.
• Cash
• Spare set of house and car keys
• Battery-powered radio
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Plastic bags, hand sanitizer and moist towelettes for cleaning
• Non-perishable food and can opener
• Dust masks
• Whistle to call for help
• Pet records and identification
• Pet food and water
• Back-up battery for cell phones
• A supply of prescription medications as well as over-the-counter medication, like pain relievers, anti-diarrheals, laxatives, and antacids
• Matches in a waterproof container

Also set aside a supply of food and water. Plan on a minimum three-day supply, with approximately one gallon of water per person per day.

Pack a change of clothes for every family member, including sturdy shoes. Put each one in a separate bag and label it. 

Since you never know where you will be when a storm is coming, keep a kit in your home, your car, and your workplace. Be ready to grab and go! 

Prepare your storm shelter.  

Clean and stock your storm shelter. Some unwanted critters might have taken up residence there and certain supplies might need to be replaced or replenished. Place clean blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, and towels there. If you have non-perishable food items, check the expiration date. Stock the storm shelter with camping gear, like mess kits and lanterns, as well as paper towels. Replace the batteries on anything that has been sitting there since last storm season. Set aside a box of books, puzzles, games, and other ways to occupy children.

Plan for the storm’s aftermath   

In the event family members become separated during the tornado, make sure everyone knows where to meet when the storm has passed. The American Red Cross also provides a “Safe and Well” website where you can let people know you are safe and check on others. 

Protect your home 

Reduce the damage to your home and property with some proactive maintenance. Clean up debris and trim loose branches that could blow around during the tornado. Reinforce doors, including garage doors. Consider installing storm shutters that can cover your windows before the storm comes.

If you have a stack of firewood in your yard, remove it before a tornado. Those powerful winds could send those logs flying around your yard and through windows. 

Bring in any loose items, like lawn furniture, pots, trash cans, and yard art that could also become projectiles in a heavy wind.

Talk to your kids. 

Tornadoes are scary enough for adults. Imagine how a child sees this threat. Talk to them about these storms—what causes them, what they can do, and, most importantly, that if you follow the rules, you’ll stay safe. Ask your kids to make a list of what they most need to take with them if they have to weather the tornado in a storm shelter or emergency shelter. 

Give each child a responsibility to handle when a storm is coming—like gathering the pets and putting together a bag of clothing and snacks. Let them feel part of the process and keep them busy at the same time. 

Tornadoes are a part of life in Oklahoma. You can’t avoid them. You can only get ready for the storm and its aftermath. When you plan carefully, you can avoid panic and help everyone in your family stay safe and calm. 

Homes By Taber hopes that when the next storm comes, you’ll benefit from these tornado preparedness tips. 

When you’re thinking about buying a new home, talk to us. We build security and safety features into each home. In addition to the standard feature of a storm shelter, our homes include air filtration system and a security system. We care about your comfort and safety, and so these important systems are never considered an option.