Forecast for Safety

Even the weather pros know that Mother Nature can be unpredictable. So get ready now for natural disasters with these safety tips for protecting your home and family.

By Jennifer James Irsfeld

When severe weather blows into town, Andrew and Allison Pinneke don't mess around -- not after two close calls in two months. This past spring, just weeks before the couple finished graduate school at the University of Iowa, a powerful tornado tore through Iowa City with 150-mph winds. The couple fled to the basement with textbooks and a radio and emerged hours later to find their car and truck dented by hail. "When we saw all the debris -- buildings caved in, cars overturned, houses ruined -- we felt pretty lucky," Allison says. A month later, after moving to Kansas City, they encountered a fierce storm while driving. The couple wisely took cover in their just-repaired car by parking under a gas station awning. The roof of their house, however, was seriously damaged. "We take the weather seriously now," Allison says. "We don't take our safety for granted."

From thunderstorms to wildfires, Mother Nature proves again and again that she won't be tamed. A lack of awareness and preparation can compound the damage created by natural disasters. Although no preparation offers absolute safety, some preventive actions can greatly reduce your risk of injury or property damage. "The key to survival is planning, no matter the disaster," says Frank Lepore, a recently retired public affairs officer at the National Hurricane Center. Taking preventive steps also makes it easier to stay calm, a key survival skill. Read on for expert advice on how to prepare for four common natural disasters.

Mighty Winds and Waves
Getting to know a hurricane on a first-name basis is no friendly task, as proven by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The 411. Hurricanes inflict devastation from strong winds (including tornados), torrential rains and storm surges, which can lead to coastal flooding. Inland flooding can take place hundreds of miles from the coast. The low-lying geography of much of the Atlantic and Gulf coastlines compounds the danger. The tropical storm season runs June through November for the Atlantic Seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Hawaii. The map above shows states that are most likely to experience hurricanes.

Did you know? Atlantic storms receive a name when winds reach 39 mph. The monikers are plucked from a six-year rotating list that runs alphabetically.

Play it safe. Riding out a hurricane in your home is foolish, to say the least. Plan your response before the warnings come:

• Be In the Know: Find out your vulnerability to flooding, wind and storm surge and whether you live in a mandatory evacuation zone.
• Plan Your Escape: Map out several evacuation routes away from known flood areas. Your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter is a good source of help.
• Stock Up: Keep on hand materials such as sandbags and plastic sheeting. Be prepared to board up doors and windows, and secure or remove loose items that are outdoors.
• Listen Up: Monitor radio and TV for evacuation orders. Act without delay to avoid traffic.
• Shut It Off: If you are in a hurricane surge zone, keep written instructions on how to turn off your home's utilities. For safety, gas, water and electricity should be shut off before you evacuate.
• Stay Out of Floodwaters: Just a few inches of moving water can sweep vehicles and people away.

Fanning The Flames
Take it from Smokey Bear: You can make a difference in preventing wildfires. In fact, nine out of 10 wildfires are started by people. Map, right: U.S. states most likely to experience the wrath of wildfires.

The 411. Fire is nature's housekeeper and plays a key role in renewing ecosystems. But there's nothing natural about the increasing number of wildfires that break out each year as more homes are built on or near forested land and outdoor activities increase. These fires threaten the environment and communities by destroying more than 900 homes each year, according to Firewise, a nonprofit wildfire prevention program.

Play it safe. Prevention is key to saving both lives and property:

• Build Smart: Use fire-resistant materials when building or remodeling your home. Outfit chimneys and stovepipes with spark arresters. Mark your house with fire-resistant signs and address numbers.
• Eliminate Combustibles: Clean debris from all roofs and gutters regularly. Keep firewood, wood fences and other flammables away from structures.
• Landscape for Safety: Create a firebreak around your home with fire-safe plants and fire-resistant landscaping.
• Keep Fire Tools Handy: If you can do so safely, battling a small blaze may be an option. Be prepared with a ladder tall enough to reach the roof, a long hose and a shovel, rake and buckets.
• Heed Evacuation Orders. If time permits before leaving, wet the roof and any shrubs within 15 feet of house.

Twisted Twisters
Consider yourself lucky if the closest you've come to a tornado is The Wizard of Oz. An average year sees 1,200 tornados reported in the United States, with 70 deaths. Map, right: States most likely to experience tornados.

The 411. These violent, rotating columns of air have been sighted throughout the United States, but most occur on the central plains east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Did you know? Peak times are March through May in southern states and late spring and summer in northern states.

Play it safe. Common signs of a tornado are a dark, sometimes greenish, sky; wall clouds; loud roar like a freight train; hail or rain followed by sudden calm or fast wind shift; and whirling debris, even if a funnel cloud is not visible. If you suspect a tornado is nearby, take immediate precautions:

• In Your Home: Stay away from windows, exterior walls and elevators. Good options include a storm shelter, interior room (such as bathroom or closet) and the basement (but move away from areas that are below heavy objects such as pianos and appliances). Abandon mobile homes and automobiles -- you are safer outside.
• Outdoors: Lie facedown in a sheltered low spot (but not under a bridge) and cover your head with your arms.

Power Storms
When thunderstorms roll in, there's more to be worried about than raindrops fallin' on your head. Lightning is the second-leading weather-related killer in the United States. Thunderstorms also can unleash downpours that turn creeks into raging rivers, 120-mph winds that plow across the ground like a bulldozer, and hail that kills. Map, above: Everyone is vulnerable to rainstorms.

The 411. Thunderstorms develop when warm, moist air meets cold air, conditions most common in the late afternoon during summer.

Did you know? There is a silver lining to thunderstorms: They help disperse excess heat and clean the air of pollutants.

Play it safe. Know what to do (and what not to do) in any situation:

• In Your Home: Head to a small interior room (away from windows and skylights) on the lowest level. Lightning-induced electrical current can travel through wiring and plumbing, so it's safest to avoid using telephones, electric appliances, sinks and showers. If power fails, turn off electrical appliances and switches before the power comes back on to help avoid power-surge damage.
• In Your Car: Pull off the road and stay inside with the windows up.
• Outdoors: Seek shelter away from exposed locations (golf courses, open water and beaches, for example). Avoid isolated tall objects (such as trees, towers, metal fences and flagpoles) and elevated areas (bleachers and hilltops). If no shelter is available, use the "lightning crouch": squat with feet together, head tucked and ears covered.
• In a Hailstorm: Large (softball-size) hailstones often are a sign of a tornado nearby, so head to a tornado shelter.
• After a Storm: More than 50 percent of lightning deaths happen post thunderstorm, so stay in a safe shelter for at least 30 minutes after the storm has passed.

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