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                    Insurance Information Institute

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  Tornado Safety ...



   *  Before



   *  During



   *  After





  "We interrupt this program for the following announcement... This is

  a tornado warning.  A tornado has been sighted north of town.  All

  residents are urged to take cover immediately... I repeat, this is

  a tornado warning..."



       These words, along with the piercing sound of sirens, often

  strike terror in the hearts of those who live in areas prone to

  tornadoes.  Too often, however, the warnings are not taken

  seriously enough.



       Tornadoes can occur any time of the year, but they occur most

  frequently during April, May and June.  Although more tornadoes

  strike Texas than any other state, no state is entirely free from

  the threat.



       In the period 1980-1988, more than 7,330 tornadoes struck the

  United States, taking a total of some 470 lives.  Since these

  killer storms often strike suddenly and with little or no warning,

  knowing what to do - before, during and after the storm - could

  save your life.



  What to do before a Tornado:



   *  Have emergency supplies on hand during the tornado season.



   *  Keep a battery-operated radio, a flashlight and a supply of

      fresh batteries in a convenient place.



   *  Know the locations of designated shelter areas in public

      facilities.  Most schools, public buildings and shopping centers

      have such areas.



   *  Make an inventory of your household furnishings and other

      possessions.  Supplement the written inventory with photographs of

      each room, including furniture, pictures and valuables.  All

      inventories should be kept in a safe deposit box or some other safe

      place away from the premises.



   *  If you live in a single-family house in a tornado-prone area,

      it's advisable to reinforce some interior portion as a shelter.



   *  PLAN.  Be sure everyone in your household knows in advance where

      to go and what to do in case of a tornado warning.



  What to do During a Tornado:



   *  Take cover immediately if a tornado warning is issued.  A

      tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted in or near

      your town.  Too often, people do not take these warnings seriously

      enough.



   *  Stay calm, don't panic.  Don't attempt to flee from the path of

      the tornado in a car or other vehicle.  They are no match for the

      swift erratic movement of a tornado, which sometimes has wind

      speeds of more than 200 miles an hour.



       In 1985 the series of tornadoes that struck Western

  Pennsylvania left 64 dead, 707 injured, 2,000 homes and businesses

  destroyed and 6,000 homeless.



   *  Abandon cars or mobile homes and seek shelter elsewhere. 

      Automobiles and mobile homes afford the least safety during a

      tornado.  If you're in a car when a tornado approaches, get out and

      head for the nearest ditch or depression if there is no better

      shelter immediately available.  Persons who live in mobile homes

      also should seek shelter elsewhere, unless adequate shelter is

      provided by the mobile-home park.



   *  If you're at home or at work, stay inside, away from windows and

      exterior walls, until the storm is over.  The safest place in a

      home during a tornado is in the basement.  If there is no basement,

      take shelter in a bathroom, a closet or under a heavy piece of

      furniture on the lowest level.



   *  If a tornado strikes during school hours, teachers should keep

      children away from windows and seek shelter either in a designated

      area or in interior hallways.  Concerned parents should not attempt

      to go out in the storm to pick up their children at school.



  What to do After a Tornado:



   *  Be alert for potential hazards.  Take extreme care when moving

      about in an area damaged by a tornado.  Be alert for broken lines,

      shattered glass, splintered wood or other sharp protruding objects.



   *  If your property is damaged, make temporary repairs to prevent

      further loss from rain, wind and looting.  Keep your receipts - the

      cost of temporary repairs may be reimbursable under your insurance

      policy.



   *  Contact your insurance representative as soon as possible. 

      Prompt service usually is available within hours after a tornado or

      other disaster strikes a community.



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