What to Do After a Tornado Strikes

After a tornado strikes, you may feel scared and stressed, and you may not know what to do next or how you, your family, and your home might recover.

Tornados are one of nature’s most dangerous storms, whose winds can reach more than 300 miles per hour. With seemingly little effort, these forces of nature can flatten your home and lift your car high into the air, causing significant damage. If your property is in a tornado’s path or sits directly in Tornado Alley, unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to stop the damage from a twister. However, after disaster strikes, there are several things you need to do.

Continue reading to learn more.

5 Things You Need to Do After a Tornado Strikes

Here are a handful of things you should do to ensure your safety after a tornado strikes:

Stay In the Know — Weather can change in the snap of a finger, and multiple rounds of storms that can produce tornadoes are possible during severe weather outbursts, so staying informed is critical! Keep listening to local news or the NOAA weather radio to stay up-to-date on information regarding tornado watches and warnings. 

Get in Contact With Loved Ones — Let your family, close friends, and other loved ones know that you and whoever else is okay, so they can continue to speed the word. You’ll likely have your hands full, and your mind will be racing, so sending a few text messages or a post on social media may be your best form of communication during this time. You probably won’t have time for multiple lengthy phone calls.

Check-In On Your Neighbors — If you can, try to be a good neighbor and check in on those who live close to you, especially those that live alone, the elderly, people with medical conditions, and anyone that might need additional assistance.

Assess Your Property’s Damage — Once the threat of severe weather, including tornado watches and warnings, has passed and it is safe to do so, carefully walk around your entire property to inspect it. For insurance purposes, you’ll want to take pictures and videos to document any property damage before you begin to clean it up. Always remember:

• If you suspect a gas leak, go outside immediately and do not use appliances, electrical switches, or anything that could combust.
• Never go near down power lines. To be safe, assume that a downed utility line is live. Reach out to local authorities if you see any down power lines.
• Stay out of damaged buildings and areas until authorities deem them that they are safe.

Contact Your Insurance Company — After a tornado strikes, the insurance companies will likely be inundated with phone calls from policyholders who were also affected by the storm. The sooner you can reach out to your insurance provider, the better.

After a Tornado Strikes, Contact Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters

When a tornado strikes, contact the knowledgeable professionals at Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters. Our skilled team boasts decades of experience in construction and disaster restoration, so we can help you quickly resolve your insurance claims and help you resume your life as usual. Our experts represent you, not your insurance company, and are ready to serve you if you live in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey. Contact us to receive a free claim review today.