When the sky gets serious.
Big skies come with big weather. Here's your guide to preparing for Texas tornadoes, finding safe shelter and protecting what matters most before the next storm rolls in.
Beautiful skies.
Unpredictable weather.
Texas knows a thing or two about severe thunderstorms. And sometimes, those storms produce tornadoes.
You don't have to become a meteorologist. But knowing when to act, where to shelter and how to prepare your home can make all the difference.
Watch or warning?
Here's the deal.
Be prepared.
Conditions are favorable for tornadoes. Review your shelter plan, monitor alerts and be ready to act quickly.
Take shelter. Now.
A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Move to your designated shelter immediately.
Don't wait to see it.
Tornadoes can be hidden by heavy rain or darkness. If a warning is issued for your location, take shelter without waiting for visual confirmation.
Know where to go.
Before you need to.
If a tornado warning is issued, get to a basement, designated storm shelter or small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
Stay away from windows. Crouch low and protect your head and neck with your arms, a helmet or a thick cushion.
What if you live in a mobile home?
Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes, even when anchored. Identify a nearby sturdy building or designated storm shelter and get there before severe weather arrives.
What if you're driving?
Get to the nearest sturdy shelter if you can do so safely. Don't shelter beneath a highway overpass or try to outrun a tornado in heavy traffic.
If no sturdy shelter is reachable, follow National Weather Service last-resort guidance for your circumstances.
Your tornado-ready checklist.
A little preparation on a sunny afternoon can make a stressful situation much easier to navigate.
Identify your home's safest shelter location and make sure everyone knows it.
Enable emergency alerts on your phone and consider a NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup.
Keep water, food, medications, flashlights, batteries, first-aid supplies and important documents accessible.
Include carriers, leashes, food and any medications they may need.
Run through your shelter plan with everyone in your household.
Get your home storm-ready.
No home improvement can guarantee protection from a powerful tornado. But routine maintenance and preparation can help reduce damage from severe storms.
Start at the top.
Arrange professional inspections and repair damaged shingles, flashing or other vulnerable areas.
Secure the loose stuff.
Remove dead tree limbs and secure outdoor furniture and equipment before severe weather.
Consider a safe room.
A properly designed FEMA-compliant safe room can offer substantial protection from extreme winds.
Make an inventory.
Photograph your rooms and valuable belongings. Store a secure copy outside your home.
The tornado passed.
Now what?
Wait for official guidance before leaving shelter. Watch for damaged buildings, downed power lines, debris and potential gas leaks.
Safety comes first.
If someone is injured or you're in immediate danger, call 911. Don't enter a seriously damaged building until authorities say it's safe.
Take photographs and videos when it's safe.
Report damage promptly and ask about the claims process and your deductible.
Save documentation for necessary emergency repairs and temporary living expenses.
Check references, get written estimates and avoid paying the entire cost upfront.
Oh yeah.
Insurance.
Tornadoes can damage roofs, windows, vehicles and entire homes. But what does your insurance actually cover?
Many Texas homeowners policies cover tornado-related wind damage. Some coastal homeowners need separate windstorm coverage. Your policy may also have a separate wind and hail deductible.
Three things worth checking.
First, confirm your windstorm coverage. Second, understand your deductible. Third, check whether your policy includes additional living expenses if covered damage makes your home uninhabitable.
Hey Charley is independent, so we can help compare options from multiple insurance carriers and review the coverage that makes sense for your Texas home.
Big winds.
Better prepared.
From windstorm coverage to understanding your deductible, let's make sure your insurance is ready for Texas weather.
LET CHARLEY TAKE A LOOK →