Tornado season in the United States occurs from March through June. This is when the most tornadoes occur. However, tornadoes can strike at any time. Your business should always be prepared for the worst weather event to happen. Having a plan is necessary to preventing harm, saving lives, and continuing to run your business with as little hiccups as possible. Here is what you can do to be ready when a tornado warning is issued.
Choose a Shelter
One crucial aspect of emergency preparedness is knowing where you should take shelter. Designate a safe area for you and your employees to meet when there’s a tornado warning. A tornado shelter or basement is ideal, but if these are not available, use a low-level hallway or a room without windows. Document the safest and quickest path to this spot in your emergency plan.
Make a Survival Kit
You should get safety supplies ready in case of a tornado. This kit should include:
- Flashlights
- Portable weather tracker
- Extra batteries
- Whistle for emergency signaling
Once you develop this kit, keep it in the shelter area and make sure it’s stocked periodically.
Communicate With Employees and Family
Not all your employees or family members may be at work or home when a tornado hits. Develop a plan to communicate with these people. For example, you may want to designate a friend or relative who lives out of the state to be an emergency contact. Make sure every relevant person, including family members and teachers, have this contact information. Another option is establishing a call center for your employees.
Conduct a Drill
Once you write up an emergency preparedness plan, set a time to practice it to ensure everyone knows what to do. After the drill, determine how well it went and make any necessary updates to the plan.
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