Tornado in Nashville TN

Spring Storm Warning: How Can I Prepare For A Tornado?

A powerful Middle Tennessee thunderstorm can cause fatalities and devastation in seconds. These rotating, funnel-shaped clouds reach from storm clouds down to the ground, most often near the edge of a storm. The sight of a tornado can be disguised by rain or low clouds, and a funnel cloud can develop so rapidly that advance warning is almost impossible. 

Knowing the signs that conditions are ripe for tornadic activity can help you prepare to remain safe during this kind of weather event.

What Are The Signs Of A Possible Tornado In My Area?

If the Nashville weather service issues a tornado watch, tornadoes are possible in and near the area. Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is usually widespread, covering numerous counties and other states. Prepare by:

  • Reviewing and discussing your emergency plans and checking supplies and your safe room. 
  • Being ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. 

Signs to look for:

  • Dark and greenish sky
  • Large, dark, and low-lying clouds
  • Hail 
  • Loud roar, often described as sounding like a passing train

What Do I Do When A Tornado Has Been Spotted In My Area?

A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted on the ground or indicated by radar, and you need to take cover immediately. You should:

  • Go to the lowest, most interior area of your home or business immediately, putting as many walls between yourself and the outdoors. 
  • Stay away from windows and do not open them.
  • Use your arms to protect your head, or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag/pillow. 
  • Remember where weighty objects are on the floor above, and stay away from the area directly beneath in case they fall through. 

Some other safety tips:

  • If you are in a mobile home, evacuate immediately. 
  • At school or work, follow the established drills to protect yourself. In an office building, go to an enclosed, windowless area near the center, away from glass, and on the lowest floor possible. 
  • Make sure you stay off of elevators, as you could become trapped. 
  • Never try to out-drive a tornado; if you are caught in your car, get out of it and go to the nearest building. If you can’t get out, stay in the vehicle with the seat belt on, and put your head down below the windows, covering your head with your hands, coat, or any other cushion. 
  • If you can safely get to an area much lower than the roadway, leave your car and lie down in that area, covering your head with your hands. 
  • It is vital to have a tornado safety plan in place in Nashville, your home, or your office to ensure that your workforce or family knows what to do in case of a tornado. 

When it comes to damages to your home or business by a tornado, severe thunderstorm, or other bad weather, remember that the team here at Ascension General Contractors is here to help you recover. We are a full-service repair company with an experienced, dependable, licensed, insured, and fully bonded staff. We’re proud to have served the Nashville community with their home and commercial improvement projects for over a decade!

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