Know what the difference is between a watch and warning. A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop, but there is not an imminent threat. A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been detected and an imminent threat to life and property has developed.
Know your area including the name of your county so you can track storms via weather radio, local TV, radio reports or the internet. Make sure you have battery backup. Monitor area forecasts to know if threatening weather is possible when you are planning outdoor activities. If a tornado is imminent and you are in a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter on the lowest floor, such as a basement, or a small interior room closet, bathroom or hallway and get under a sturdy piece of furniture.
Remember to always put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Stay away from windows. Get out of automobiles. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. If you are caught outside or in a vehicle lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression, but be aware of possible flooding, and cover your head with your hands.
Mobile homes are not a safe place to be during severe weather. You should leave a mobile home and go the lowest floor of sturdy nearby building or a storm shelter. Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook. Tornado Alley includes the area from central Texas stretching north to Iowa, and from central Kansas and Nebraska east to western Ohio, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While Tornado Alley in the Great Plains still leads in the number of tornadoes, more are appearing in the South.
And tornadoes shifting to this region can take a devastating toll. Dixie Alley tornadoes are harder to spot and often occur at night. Unlike the Plains, where a tornado can be seen coming from miles away, the South has more rugged terrain and more trees, making it more difficult to spot a tornado.
Many tornadoes that occur in this area are "rain-wrapped," so they are less visible to the naked eye, CNN meteorologists say. Read More. More heavily forested areas in the South leads to more trees being toppled by storms or turned into projectiles as well. Tornadoes in the South tend to stay on the ground longer and move faster. While these states record relatively few tornadoes on average, each season is different. Tornado Alley is a nickname given to a region in the U. Tornado Alley begins in the Southern plains and extends northward through the upper Midwest to the Canadian border.
Tornadoes can and do occur outside of these states. Additionally, Tornado Alley is simply a nickname. Some states, like Alabama and Mississippi, are not included in Tornado Alley but often see widespread tornadic activity.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover tornado damage for the structure of your home, outbuildings and your personal belongings. Your policy will also likely cover damage from fallen trees that are blown onto your home during a storm.
As a result, you may not need to purchase a separate policy for tornado insurance coverage. However, every policy varies in its coverage, so reviewing your policy with your insurance professional for these protections can be a good idea.
Your home insurance policy might not offer enough coverage if you live in one of the worst states for tornadoes. Additionally, every property carrier is different, so tornado damage could be excluded from your policy. In that case, you may need to seek out a separate policy to cover tornado damage. In addition to heavy winds, the intense convective storms that spawn tornadoes often cause floods. Unlike tornado and wind damage, flood damage is not typically covered by homeowners insurance. In order to be protected by flood insurance , you will likely need to purchase a separate flood policy underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program NFIP.
Flood coverage is also available through dozens of private insurers and many property insurers offer flood coverage as an endorsement on standard home policies. In addition to making sure your home insurance covers you in the event of a tornado, there are some things you can do before and after a storm to mitigate your risk to minimize damage.
These tips can help you prepare for a natural disaster by physically safeguarding your home and belongings. If you live in an area where tornadoes are common, you may want to:. These preparations and safeguards can make an enormous difference should a disaster strike. If the worst does happen, having pictures of valuable belongings and the inside and outside of your home can be helpful if you need to file a property insurance claim.
Preparing a detailed home inventory of your belongings could also be beneficial and should be stored in the cloud or on a flash drive for quick access after a storm. Homeowners insurance policies do not cover your car, even if your vehicle is parked in your garage or driveway when it is damaged. The best home insurance company will vary depending on your individual needs and rating factors. Shopping around and comparing home insurance quotes from multiple carriers before purchasing a policy might help you find the right fit for your situation.
A licensed insurance professional can help you through the process of obtaining quotes and securing coverage. Experts typically recommend that homeowners purchase enough home insurance to cover the entire dwelling the actual structure of your home if a tornado or other covered peril destroys it. You may also want to consider personal property coverage. Other coverage types that could be helpful include other structures coverage, medical payments coverage and water backup coverage.
A licensed insurance professional can help you choose coverage for your specific needs. Many home insurance companies will cover additional living expenses while you rebuild or repair your home after a tornado or other covered loss, but policies vary from provider to provider.
Check your existing policy or talk to your agent to see if you have this coverage, which is often called loss of use. How We Make Money.
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