Heading Into the Storm: Do's & Don'ts

By Emily Ergas, intern contributor

As Texas residents, we are no stranger to tornadoes and the threat they pose to our communities. This August, Into the Storm, aims to bring an action packed suspense story of one town’s fight to survive while being hit by tornadoes left and right.

Watching the trailer, we’ll give you a play-by-play on the right and wrong things the characters are doing in reaction to the tornadoes. Feel free to watch along!


[Watch the trailer here.]

• Know your community’s warning system: (:13) Check. As graduation ends, the siren goes off to warn everyone of an approaching storm. (Though the rain is also a hint.)

• Go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter: (:18) Well done. Everyone from outside moves into the school in a quick, orderly fashion.

• Pick a safe room – this should be a basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor with no windows: Mmmm, half credit here. (:20-32) Everyone moves into a hall, on the lowest floor, away from windows. However, windows at the end of the hall cause damage and pose a significant risk to the characters.

• Prepare for high winds by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees: (:22) Obviously not done, as a tree limb comes crashing through the hall window, almost harming a student.

• Watch for tornado warning signs: (:51) Characters confirm that large hail is a result of an approaching storm, but then decide to go towards it...they are storm chasers, trained to do this, however.

• Stay out of damaged buildings: (:55) Two characters stand in the middle of a clearly damaged building. This is a very poor idea.

• If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter: immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and drive to the closest sturdy shelter: (1:44) Several buses and cars are seen driving away from a tornado, but they seem to be trying to outrun the storm more than looking for a sturdy shelter. This is also never a good idea.

• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately: (1:49) As a power line whips onto the road, a character swerves the car. Good job watching out, but if he doesn't report it, it’s going to remain a danger to everyone else.

Overall, the characters seem to react somewhat appropriately to the tornadoes in the trailer. Hopefully, the movie will emphasize important safety procedures, but for the facts, make sure to visit RedCross.org. And look out for Into the Storm in theaters TODAY!

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Watching for Tornados: Knowing the Difference Between a Tornado Watch and Tornado Warning

by Brenda Lepenski, volunteer contributor 

The TV control is in your hands. Flip. Flip. Flip. As you continue, there is weather graphic and some text at the bottom of every channel. At first, you see it as a nuisance. 

Then you stop to read the graphic.

Tornado watch until 6 p.m.  

Wait. What exactly is a tornado watch?

A tornado watch means that weather conditions could lead to the creation of tornadoes. 

During a watch, it is appropriate to keep a close eye and ear on weather reports. A battery powered radio and a flashlight are useful tools to locate during a watch so they're handy if electrical power is abruptly interrupted.

On the other hand, a tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted by trained spotters or on radar, and it is important to take precautions to stay safe.

During a tornado warning, the American Red Cross suggests that you stay away from rooms with windows. Head to the most interior part of your home, putting as many walls in between you and the outdoors as possible.

To protect yourself from possible flying debris, curl up in a ball with your hands protecting your head. 

If you live in a mobile home, identify a nearby sturdy building where you can seek shelter. 

However, you might not always be in the comfort of your home. If you are driving or outside seek shelter immediately. If there is no shelter in sight, you can take the following precautions:

• Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.
• If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have the following options as a last resort:
• Stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.
• If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.
  For more information on how to prepare for a tornado, visit redcross.org and don't forget to download our free Tornado app to be alerted when there's a tornado warning in your area! 

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New Red Cross Tornado App Provides Life-Saving Alerts, Safety Information

by Amy Yen, Digital Communications Manager, American Red Cross

The new Red Cross Tornado app
can save lives by sounding a siren
during tornado warnings

Here in the heart of Tornado Alley, we know that a tornado can hit at any time of the day, wherever you are and with little or no warning. That’s why today we are so excited to be introducing our new Tornado App for iOS and Android devices, which will, among other features, sound a siren when a NOAA tornado warning is in effect in your area. 

The siren will go off even if you are not running the app, so the audible alert can save lives because users might not otherwise know of the danger in their area. For example, many tornadoes happen at night, when people are sleeping. The tornadoes that hit the Metroplex last April were in the middle of the day, when many people were at work and not monitoring the news or weather.

The app is designed to give users access to local and real-time information about what to do before, during and after a tornado hits. It’s available in English and Spanish, and is free for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Other features include:

• An “all clear!” alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled
• A “I’m safe” button to let loved ones and friends know when you’re out of harm’s way
• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create an emergency plan and share it with household members
• Preloaded preparedness content that gives instant access to critical action steps even without mobile connectivity
• Toolkit with a flashlight, a strobe light and an audible alarm
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

You can download the Tornado App now by searching for Red Cross in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps. Don’t forget to also check out our other apps: First Aid, Hurricane, Earthquake and Wild Fire. 

Let us know what you think of the app & don't forget to tell your friends in tornado-prone areas to download it!

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Prepare for Another Round of Severe Weather Across North Texas

Photo courtesy of NWS/NOAA

Over the last week, it seems every time you turn around there is yet another severe weather alert being issued. Today is no different as Dallas County has been placed under a Tornado Watch until 6:00 p.m. along with other areas in the Metroplex. While you should already have a plan in place for these severe weather dangers that continue to occur, if you don’t have a tornado plan yet the time to procrastinate is over. Take a few moments today to make sure you are ready to move to your safe place if the time comes. Here are some tips to prepare and some items you may need if severe weather threatens your neighborhood.

Know the Difference

Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives!

Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Tornado warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Go immediately under ground to a basement, storm cellar or an interior room (closet, hallway or bathroom).

Ways You Can Prepare

The following are procedures you should follow in order to prepare your family for tornadoes:

• Pick a safe place in your home where family members could gather during a tornado, windstorm or major hail storm. The safest place to be is underground, or as low to the ground as possible, and away from all windows. Unfortunately, many residents in the Metroplex do not have basements, therefore an interior hallway or room on the lowest floor is the best choice. Putting as many walls between you and the outside will provide additional protection. Also make sure there are no windows or glass doors in your safe place and keep this place uncluttered.
  
  
• Get out of your mobile home and choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. Mobile homes are much more vulnerable to strong winds than site-built structures. If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your family's safe place.
  
  
• If you are in a vehicle, get out immediately. Find a sturdy nearby structure and take shelter. If there is no building nearby, go to a low-lying area until the storm passes. Taking cover under bridges is not recommended.
  
  
• If you are in a high-rise building, pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building. You may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor. Center hallways are often structurally the most reinforced part of a building.
  
  
• Check with your work and your children's schools and day care centers to learn tornado emergency plans. Every building has different safe places. It is important to know where they are and how to get there in an emergency.
  
• Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit. This kit should be kept near your safe room, whether at home, work or school, and should contain supplies such as bottled water, flashlights with extra batteries, first aid supplies, an AM/FM or NOAA Weather radio and additional important items.
  
  
• Conduct periodic tornado drills so everyone remembers what to do when a tornado is approaching. Practice having everyone in the family go to your designated area in response to a tornado threat. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking time during an actual emergency situation.
  
  
• Discuss tornadoes with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are not together. Discussing disaster ahead of time helps reduce fear and lets everyone know how to respond during a tornado.
  
  
• Log on to www.redcross.org to download free tips on getting prepared for severe weather.

In the event that severe weather does impact the North Texas area, the American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter will be ready to respond. Real-time updates for any responses can be found by following @RedCrossDallas on Twitter.

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Preparedness tip of the week: Be on watch for tornado season

It's that time of year again. If you have lived in the Dallas area long, you already know what I'm about to say.

It's tornado season.

It seems Rihanna may be wrong on this one. If you are in a building with a foundation, do not evacuate. Instead, stay indoors, in an interior room and away from windows.

So, it's time to get back to the basics.

Are you ready to have a question answered that confuses millions of people each year?

What is the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning?

Tornado Watch

Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching.

Tornado Warning

A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Tornado warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Go immediately to an interior room, such as a closet, hallway or bathroom, on the lowest level of the building you are in.

However, if you are about to get attacked by tornado Rihanna, then you'd better run.

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Texas Tornado Tears Through Theaters on Thursday (say that five times fast)

The American Red Cross – Dallas Area Chapter blew into a nearby theater last Thursday with the sold out release of “F5.” The 18-minute movie focused on the possibility of an F5 tornado tearing through North Texas. In honor of the success, here are a few tips and facts from the Red Cross fact sheet. The National Weather Service also created a vast tornado Q&A section here.

Most North Texans are familiar with tornados. I lived through the 1993 Mother’s Day tornado in Wylie. Now every time there is a bad storm I tend to grab my flashlight, battery-operated radio, computer and cell phone and head to a closet under my staircase (husband in tow).

Before you pull your mattress off the bed or hide in the closet, it is important to know the difference between tornado watches and tornado warnings. A tornado watch means that tornados are possible in and near the watch area. At this point, it is important to review and discuss your emergency plans, check supplies and your safe room. On the other hand, a tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. These indicate imminent danger. You should head directly to your basement, storm cellar or an interior room immediately.

Keep an eye out for tornado danger signs such as dark, often greenish clouds. A wall cloud, cloud of debris, large hail, funnel cloud and roaring noise are often consistent with tornados too.

Go indoors; preferably to an underground shelter, basement, or safe room. Since most North Texans don’t have those, a small windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.

Once you have “weathered the storm” register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well Web site, or call 1-866-GET INFO to let your family and friends know you are safe.

And now for your viewing pleasure, F5 (in two parts).

 

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