I absolutely love America. The word patriotic doesn’t even begin to cover it. I love the people, and I love our culture, because there’s nothing better than living in the land of freedom and liberty for all. But before I burst into tears and start singing the national anthem, let me balance things out a little. Whilst there’s so much that I love about living in the US, there is one thing I’m not so keen on. Anybody who lives in one of the tornado states knows exactly what I’m talking about.
Extreme weather, particularly tornados, is a major problem in many areas across the states. Such tornados have frequently been the subject of global news over recent years. So, the majority of people are already all-too-familiar with the devastation they can cause. Families have watched as their houses and belongings are tossed around like tissue paper in the wind. A life that may have taken years of toil and financial hardship to build can be destroyed in a matter of mere seconds. It can then take months, or even years to rebuild what has been lost. If you live in a high-risk area, there’s also always the possibility that it could happen again.
Now, unfortunately, acts of God are out of my control. But the one thing I can do is show you how to take the necessary steps to protect your home from the next extreme weather event.
Inspection
The first thing you need to do is conduct a preliminary inspection of your home. Pay close attention to the structure itself – are there any cracks or rendering issues? Then look at the windows – do they offer adequate protection from the elements? The key is to survey the house for any weaknesses. The stronger the structure of your house means the more likely it is to survive during tornado conditions. Once you’ve identified what needs to be done, you can either carry out the work yourself or employ a tradesman, should funds allow. Although such work may come at a short-term expense, it’s going to save you a lot of financial hardship in the long-term.
Know the Warning Signs
You need to have a plan in place should a tornado hit your town. So, familiarize yourself with the local warning system and plan how you’re going to reach a place of safety. This could be your local church, a community hall, or even some nearby purpose-built storm shelters. Do a few practice runs beforehand, so you’re confident you can reach safety in the available time. So if you’re community’s weather system gives you a three-minute warning, you need to get to a safe place within that time. If you also have young children or pets to worry about, this also needs to be taken into consideration.
Sadly, there can be no guarantees when it comes to extreme weather. But this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take whatever measures we can to protect our families and our homes. After all, you simply can’t put a price on peace of mind.
