Does Your Family Have an Emergency Weather Plan?

Springtime is prime time for severe supercell thunderstorms in Atlanta. A supercell thunderstorm is a thunderstorm with a deep rotating updraft. The major difference between a supercell thunderstorm and a garden variety thunderstorm is the element of rotation, which can cause tornadic activity. Does your family have an emergency plan if one of these supercell thunderstorms should come close to your neighborhood? When strong supercell thunderstorms are predicted for your area, here's what you need to do to protect your family:

Find a safe place in your home. If you have a basement, that is the safest place to go. If not, designate an interior room with no windows, such as an interior bathroom or closet.

Gather your supplies. Have large cushions or pillows in your safe room, along with a battery powered radio or television. Also make sure that you have a pair of shoes for every person in the family. In the event of broken glass, everyone's feet will be protected. Also, take some water and food supplies, a cordless telephone, plus family valuables, like a purse, wallet, cash, etc. if you move to your safe room. If you have pets, don't forget them!

Track the storms, and know when to take cover. Tune into your local TV or radio stations for radar and storm updates. If there is a warning in your area, have your entire family go into the safe room immediately.

Take the warnings seriously. I have personal experience with the unpredictability of the force of nature. Do not assume that a storm will not hit your neighborhood. No area is safe when super cell thunderstorms pop up. A warning should never be taken lightly!

Turn off all electrical appliances. This includes computers, kitchen appliances. Do not use any electrical appliance when a storm is in the area.

As a past resident of Florida, we were very accustomed to making hurricane preparations. Tornadoes are an entirely different ballgame because there is very little advance warning. When one is issued in your county, take it seriously, and proceed with your family emergency plan. Safe is always better than sorry.

Related article:

My scary weather story and how we activated our own emergency weather plan