Tornado Preparedness: What to Do Before and After

The short answer

Before the Storm

Pick the safest spot in your home, ideally an interior room on the lowest floor without windows. Practice going there quickly with everyone in your household. Keep a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, and a first aid kit in that room.

Secure items that can become projectiles, like patio furniture and trash cans. Know where your main gas and water shutoff valves are located. If you live in Bonita Springs, keep that location written down and easy to reach. This area's humid subtropical climate means storms can develop quickly.

During the Tornado

Get to your safe room immediately and stay low, covering your head and neck with your arms. Stay away from windows, doors, and exterior walls. If you are in a mobile home, leave it and find a sturdy shelter or lie flat in a ditch.

Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. If you are driving, pull over and find a building to shelter in, or stay in the car with your seatbelt on and head down below the window line. Wait for official all clear before leaving your safe spot.

Stay away from windows and exterior walls.
Use a heavy blanket or mattress to shield yourself.
Keep your shoes on to protect against broken glass.
Have a weather radio or phone alerts turned on.
Do not open windows to equalize pressure.

Right After the Storm

Check yourself and others for injuries and see a doctor if anyone feels unwell. Watch for downed power lines, gas leaks, and structural damage before moving around. Do not touch anything wet that could be near an electrical source.

Take photos and videos of all damage for your insurance records. If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve if safe, and leave the building. Do not use candles or lighters until you are sure there is no gas leak.

Water Damage and Drying

Tornadoes often bring heavy rain and flooding. Remove standing water quickly to reduce the chance of mold. Open windows and use fans if power is available, but do not run electrical equipment in wet areas.

Separate wet items and discard anything that cannot be dried within 48 hours, like soaked carpet padding or upholstered furniture. Drywall that has been soaked should be cut out and replaced. For large areas, local water damage pros can handle extraction and structural drying.

Related services: water-damage-inspection, structural-drying-dehumidification, emergency-water-extraction, flood-damage-cleanup

Remove standing water with a pump or wet vacuum.
Use dehumidifiers to speed up drying.
Throw out porous materials that stay wet.
Clean and disinfect surfaces that got wet.
Keep air moving to prevent mold growth.

Insurance and Next Steps

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the damage. Policies vary, and your insurer decides what is covered. Ask about coverage for water damage, temporary housing, and debris removal.

Do not make permanent repairs before the insurance company inspects the damage, unless it is necessary to prevent further loss. Keep receipts for any temporary repairs or supplies. If you have questions about your policy, check your policy documents or ask a qualified attorney.

Frequently asked questions

How soon should I start drying out my home?

Start as soon as it is safe to enter. The longer water sits, the higher the risk of mold and structural damage. Remove standing water and set up fans or dehumidifiers within the first day if possible.

Can I dry wet drywall myself?

Small spots can be dried with fans, but if drywall is soaked through, it often needs to be cut out and replaced. If the water came from sewage or floodwater, remove it to avoid health risks.

What should I do if I smell gas after a tornado?

Leave the building immediately and do not flip any switches or use phones. Turn off the gas valve only if you can do so safely. Call the gas company from a safe distance and do not return until they say it is safe.