Blog

Returning Home after a Natural Disaster

Returning home after a natural disaster can be both physically and mentally challenging. The most important thing is to use caution. You may be anxious to see your property but do not return to your home before the area is declared to be safe by local officials. Please see use the tips below when returning to your home:

• Before You Enter Your Home
• Going Inside Your Home
• Animals & Wildlife

Don’t wait any longer to protect your family! Order your tornado shelter today!

How to Prepare Your Kids for Tornadoes and Natural Disasters

Spring is in the air and it’s a beautiful time of year - but this beauty comes at a price! Spring means the start of high storm season for most parts of the country. It is critical that families are prepared for dangerous weather. Teaching your kids basic tornado safety procedures will help reduce the chaos in the event of a tornado. 

The first thing children should know is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch simply means that conditions are favorable for a tornado and that you should be on the lookout. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted either by a storm spotter or by a weather radar.

In the event of a tornado warning, your kids need to know what to do. Be sure to openly communicate with your children what they should do and have the following items ready.

Emergency Kit

Your disaster supply kit should include water, snacks, blankets, medicines and a battery powered radio – just to name a few!

Emergency Contact List

You and your kids should work together to create a list of emergency contacts. Talk about the people and phone numbers that will be on the list. Be sure to include your cell numbers in case you are ever separated from your kids in an emergency situation.

Emergency Meeting Place

Discuss with your kids the place that you want to meet with them after a disaster strikes. This could be a mailbox, a neighbor's house or anywhere you think your child could easily get to. This is also helpful information in the event of fires or other disasters other than tornados. 

Talking with your children about tornados and other natural disasters is the best way to keep them safe. Make sure they know where to go during tornado warnings (the lowest level of your house away from all windows). They should also know where to find you or how to contact you in the event that you are separated. If a disaster does strike your family, it is important to help your kids cope with the devastation. Remember - knowledge is safety! 

You can also check out FEMA’s website as well.  Just search tornado safety for kids in the search bar and tons of helpful tips and advice will pop up.  

Why It's Important To be Prepared for Natural Disasters

A tornado can have winds up to an incredible 300 mph and have a path of up to 50 miles! They strike with little warning, so we cannot stress enough how important it is to prepare! Below we give you tips as to what to do before, during and after a tornado hits.

Know How to Spot a Tornado

Do you know your tornado warning signs? The first thing you should learn is how to identify a tornado and understand the following facts:

• Can happen any time of year.
• Can appear transparent until they pick up dust and debris.
• Usually have the following warning signs:
• Dark (sometimes greenish) sky
• Large hail
• A large, dark, low-lying cloud
• A loud roar, similar to a freight train

Prepare Your Home & Family

There is not a house out there that can withstand a direct hit from a tornado, but shoring up your house can help it survive if it's in the tornado's path. Just as important is having a safe space for your family to hunker down during the tornado. This includes basements, outdoor underground shelters, safe rooms and garage shelters. Below are some tips you should use as an emergency preparedness guideline.

• Make a plan. Make sure family members know what to do in case of a tornado, including designating an emergency meeting spot and deciding who takes charge of family pets.
• Show adult and teen family members where electrical, gas and water shut-offs are located and how to turn them off. Make sure the proper tools are at the ready.

Have a well-stocked first aid kit, flashlights and plenty of batteries ready to go in your shelter (see our tornado shelter supply checklist here).

• Install impact-resistant windows.
• Make certain your doors have at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock with a bolt at least 1 inch long.
• Install permanent wood or metal stiffeners on your garage door. Or contact the door manufacturer about temporary supports you can easily attach and remove.
• Make sure your roof covering and sheathing beneath it can resist high winds.
• Consider replacing gravel and rock landscaping with mulch or shredded bark, which can be less deadly in high winds.
• Trim trees and shrubbery. Pay particular attention to weak or dead branches that could fall on your home.

What To Do Before Or During A Tornado

You should do the following if conditions are right for a tornado in your area:

• Monitor local radio and television for a tornado announcement and instructions.
• Turn off all utilities.
• If it’s safe, move outdoor furniture and grills inside. They can be deadly flying debris.
• Take shelter!
• If you don’t have a storm shelter or basement, lean a mattress against the wall of the room you're in.
• Don't open your windows. Keep the wind and rain outside.
• Have flashlights ready to go.
• If you’re in a mobile home, find shelter elsewhere.
• If you’re in your vehicle, get out and head for a sturdy building. If one is not near, a ditch can provide shelter.
• Don't take shelter under a bridge or overpass!

What To Do After A Tornado

If a tornado does take place, and you were forced to leave your home – or if it has been severely damaged from the tornado – wait for authorities to give the all-clear to re-enter. Then do the following:

• Check for structural damage before going inside.
• If it is dark, use a flashlight (NOT matches, candles or lighters).
• Listen for reports to see when drinking water is safe.
• Don’t turn your power on until an electrician has inspected your system.
• Begin documenting your damage claim by taking an inventory of your damaged or destroyed belongings and gathering your insurance policy documents.
• Use a camera to photograph any damage.
• Once you’ve gathered necessary documents and evidence of your claim, contact your insurance company or agent.

How to Travel Safely During Tornado Season

For all you business travelers out there - do you know what to do if you're on the road and tornado sirens go off? Developing some emergency weather know-how ahead of time can help protect you and your co-workers while traveling.

Tornado Alley is considered the most tornado-prone region in the country. However; it is important to remember that tornados can occur in almost any state. The months of April through June are considered the height of tornado season in most places.

Smart business travelers make it a standard practice during high storm season to check out tornado warnings and watches. The brief amount of time this takes can make the difference between being caught in tornado-level winds and being safe in a secure shelter.

Experienced travelers who have been through tornado watches and warnings may be able to recognize a tornado-ready sky. It is often tinted green and the atmosphere is usually humid and heavy.

But in order to ensure severe weather preparedness, every traveler should take the time to watch the news and weather forecast, go to weather sites online or look for smart phone apps that show the weather at a glance. It also is smart to get in the habit of monitoring severe weather advisories. The NOAA's National Weather Service Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services is a great place to start. 

Below are some other tips on how to stay safe from severe storms while traveling. 

If you are at a hotel:

• Do not take shelter in areas under free-spanning roofs that aren't supported by interior columns or pillars.
• If there is no basement or designated safe area, take shelter in interior hallways or rooms on the lowest floor possible.
• Stay away from windows and outside walls.
• Ask at check-in about the procedure if there's a tornado warning.
• Don't delay in going to the pre-designated shelter area.

On the road:

• If conditions appear right for a tornado, do not drive!
• Do not ignore the signs - tune in to weather alerts if skies look threatening and it is humid, windy and hot.
• If it's possible to get lower than the level of the roadway, take shelter in a low-lying area but be aware it may flood.
• If there's no shelter, park - but not in a traffic lane. Stay in your car with your seat belt fastened. If debris is blowing by, keep your head below window level and covered.
• Do not try to out-drive severe weather. Tornados often change direction.
• Stay away from trees and cars that can become flying debris.
• Take shelter in a sturdy building, preferably where you can move to the basement level. Move away from windows.
• Avoid highway overpasses - despite popular myth, they aren't safe refuge. Wind moving through them actually may increase in speed!

Storm Shelter Warranties

What is the warranty policy? Some may offer 5-10 years, others a lifetime. What is a good warranty?

Ground Zero has been installing storm shelters for over 10 years and we have a lifetime warranty that covers against leaking, floating, or manufacturing defects on all underground or above ground garage units. Remember, a lifetime warranty is only good as long as the company is around to honor it.

Don’t wait any longer – get a storm shelter installed today from Ground Zero. You can also request more information with any further questions.

Storm Shelter Ventilation

What type of ventilation do storm shelters have?

Ground Zero’s tornado shelters have different ventilation depending on the model. Our underground garage units have 360 degrees of passive ventilation around the back lid / cover (it is lifted up slightly to provide adequate ventilation). It also has two hand holes that can work as vents as well. The above ground safe rooms have two vent holes cut into the door that allows air to flow easily as well as ventilation around the entire door. Our outside underground concrete units come with a 6” wind turbine and a 6” vent for ventilation.

Don’t wait any longer! Keep your family safe by ordering a storm shelter today.