Home Inspection List

You will never be able to eliminate every risk, but you can reduce them if you respond affirmatively to the following questions:

Are the walls well cemented?
Are the beds away from the windows, mirrors or large paintings?
Are all heavy items stored at less than a meter from the ground?
Are heavy things in a stable place?
Are toxic materials, poisonous materials and solvents stored in a safe place?
What to do with the gas, power and water

Gas

Do not light matches, lighters or the stove after a tornado passing. Don’t turn the lights on or off until you are completely sure that no gas leaks are present. The spark produced by the switches may generate an explosion.

If you smell gas shut off the main. The valve is usually next to the meter. You can use an adjustable piston valve to place the valve in the “closed” position.

Electricity

For the same reason, it recommendable to disconnect the main power switch after any catastrophe until verifying that there is no gas leaking.

Water

•    Water can be shut off at two places:
1.    At the valve next to the meter that controls water flow for the entire house. 
2.    In the external valve that supplies water to your home. (If the water supply is close here, it interrupts supply for your water heater; in case of an emergency this water may be needed).
•    Put away the special piston valve to close the external water main in an accessible place (this tool can be purchased at any hardware store).
•    Place labels indicating the direction of the different pipelines; this will allow shutting of the water only in the damaged pipe or pipelines.

How to place and secure dangerous items

•    Decorate your home placing beds and chairs away from windows, mirrors or heavy paintings.
•    Place the heavy items in the lower parts of bookcases or closets.
•    Anchor heavy furniture with resistant cables or metallic frames.
•    Locate heavy and unstable furniture such as bookcases or closets with china. Do not stand near them during tornadoes. Try to increase their stability by screwing them to the floor or wall and placing locks at their doors.
•    Check for poisons, solvents or any toxic material in breakable containers and store them in a closed cabinet in a well-ventilated area and away from containers storing water.

How to detect a tornado

Beware of emergency warnings

If you see a storm approaching, turn on the radio or television and try to find out if there is any danger.

Local warning system

Investigate what the warning system in your community for tornadoes is.  Most areas where tornadoes are frequent have a siren or alarm system. Learn to differentiate between a siren announcing a tornado risk and the one that announces a tornado that has been seen.

A warning of conditions appropriate for a tornado (tornado watch) is issued during a strong storm. If you hear this siren, beware of emergency announces issued by the radio and television, and observe any changes in the sky. If necessary, seek shelter immediately.

If you hear the tornado warning siren, gather the family and seek shelter immediately.

Storms

Since tornadoes usually come along storms, pay attention to storm warnings as well.

A severe thunderstorm watch announcement is issued when a storm might be passing through your area.

A severe thunderstorm watch warning means storms are present in your area.
It is important that you always have a battery operated radio or television handy since power is often interrupted during storms, exactly when you need emergency information the most.

Indications that a tornado is approaching
Some tornadoes arrive suddenly without allowing time to activate the alarms or coming along with a storm. It is important to know that tornadoes are not always visible. Sometimes rain or clouds may affect visibility. A tornado might be approaching if:

•    You hear a noise similar to a freight train.
•    Observe a dark or greenish sky.
•    Observe a low, large and dark cloud.
•    Large hail is falling.

If these four conditions are present, seek shelter immediately and tune into weather information be it your radio or television, or through a NOAA radio.

NOAA Weather Radios

NOAA weather radios (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) are the best method of receiving emergency messages from the National Weather Service (NWS).

These radios offer constant information about weather conditions. The scope of these radios varies, but in general it is about 40 miles (65 kilometers).
You can buy them in almost any radio store, but the NWS recommends radios with an emergency battery and an automatic alarm when danger is present.