Helping protect your home and family from a tornado
A tornado is perhaps one of the most terrifying forces of destruction nature can unleash, with a funnel of winds swirling at up to 300 mph. They can happen any time of year, and appear transparent until they pick up dust and debris. One tornado can cut a path of devastation a mile wide and 50 miles long, so it’s important to know how to prepare for a tornado and what to do during and after a tornado. These tornado safety tips can help protect your family and home.
Tornado warning signs
Thankfully, tornadoes don’t come completely without warning. Pay attention to these signs that often indicate when a tornado may be brewing:
A dark sky, often greenish
A large, low-lying cloud – very dark, possibly rotating
Large hailstones falling
A loud roar, like a freight train
Prepare your home & family
No house can withstand a direct hit from a severe tornado, but “hardening” your home can help it survive if it’s on the fringe of the tornado’s path. Also vital: proper tornado preparation with your family so they know exactly what to do in case of a tornado:
Designate an emergency meeting spot and decide who takes charge of the dog or cat.
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 nearby.
Have a well-stocked first aid kit, flashlights and plenty of batteries.
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 or your neighbor’s home.
Before a tornado hits
If conditions are right for a tornado in your area:
Stay tuned to local radio and TV for any tornado announcements and instructions. Having a potable battery operated radio is highly recommended.
Turn off all utilities.
If it’s safe, move outdoor furniture and grills inside. They can be deadly flying debris.
If emergency officials haven’t directed you to a public shelter, get your family to the basement, a closet, a small room or a hallway away from windows. The more walls between you and the outside, the better.
Lean a mattress against the wall of the room you’re in.
Don’t open your windows. Keep the wind and rain outside.
Hand out flashlights. The tornado will probably disrupt electrical service.
If you’re in a mobile home, find shelter elsewhere.
If you’re in a 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 – these structures could be destroyed.
Being prepared is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from a tornado,
If your home should suffer any weather related damage, no job is too big or too small for 24Restore. We understand Minnesota weather and as fast as the weather struck, 24Restore will be there to repair your home.
The people, the equipment, the expertise
“24Restore came within an hour of our water damage to assess the problem and restore and reconstruct our kitchen and my office. Everyone from 24Restore was professional, kind and did an outstanding job of damage assessment and restoration.”
- Barbara R.
Your service was excellent. The young man was thorough and very dedicated to completing the job. He’s a good one. I would recommend your services to anyone who need them.
- Keith
Your team has been absolutely amazing, professional, sympathetic and wonderful. They took my mess and made it manageable as I shed a few tears, which they also consoled with empathy. At a time when we have floods and tornados city wide you responded within hours. Thank, I am impressed and I have passed the word on to many.
- Genie
Very good experience……everyone I dealt with through 24 Restore was very professional and very kind.
- Nancy
This note is a note of thanks and appreciation of the services provided…..we could even say our home looks better than before we incurred our water damage…Job well done!
- Jay and Susan
I don’t often take the time to write a follow up complimentary letter. However I was very impressed with 24 Restore and felt they went above and beyond to surpass expectations with WOW service. Thank you for the great service and great job that your team did to get my house back in shape.
- Jane
I have recommended them to many of my friends. They are the only service that I have ever used that always gets my stains out and that clean my carpets beautifully. I can’t say enough good thins about them
- Laura
Thank you for all the work put in to get out home……It would have been an impossible task for us to have accomplished in such a short time. We appreciate all that you have done for us! We are so grateful!
- Ken and Kathe
Yes. I appreciated the ability to funnel all activities thru a one-stop shop proved to be very valuable in a disaster project such as ours demo, construction and finish as well as work directly with insurance company. The team has been professional and those on site have been respectful of our home and schedule.
- Reed
Alex did a great job scheduling, coordinating, and keeping me informed. He made sure that everything was done in a timely manner. I always felt that my job was a priority. All the workmen did a great job and were very polite. I am pleased with the results. I would highly recommend your company!
- Linda – Minneapolis
From the time of initial contact to the time of job completion was 24 hrs. Very pleased with job outcome. Will definitely use you again. If ever in need.
- Kevin – St. Paul
Response time was awesome. We we’re bewildered by what was happening and what needed to be done. 24hr came in and took care of what needed to be done.
- Susan – Plymouth
I thought 24 was very professional and timely work.
- Veronica – Lake Elmo
24Restore was very responsive and did a thorough job plus they cleaned up after themselves.
- Jean – St. Cloud
The job was exceptionally well done. You were recommended to me by Dennis Carlson, a freind and I would definatley refer 24restore to friends and family.
- Jan – Anoka
Very Professional!
- Gordon – Andover
Everyone was on top of everything and got back to me in a reasonable time. Clean up was done absolutely perfect at the end of each job.
- Pam – Arden Hills
The guys who worked here were great, polite, personable and hard workers. They did a great job! So thankful this is over!
- Ron and Jackie – Minneapolis
Working with the employees at 24restore has been an easy process. They aimed to please.
Kudos to Shelli Abraham especially, she worked with the mortgage company and insurance company so I didn’t have to, I’m a caregiver for my husband with Dementia, she took the pressure off having to deal with them, thanks Shelli.