How would you prepare for the following situation?   (provide realistic examples and details for safety and survival) (Scenario) At this moment, you are sitting at home working on your class. Suddenly, the National Weather Bureau sends an alert across your cell phone—a tornado is headed your way. You have 15 minutes before touchdown in your neighborhood. What is your plan? This is a ‘shelter in place’ scenario, you cannot outrun the tornado. Identify a safe place in your home to take shelter.

My plan for this tornado situation would be to first check the emergency alert on my phone to make sure it is accurate and up to date. Then, I will quickly turn off the gas or electricity in my home if needed. After that, I will gather all of my family members (if applicable) and move them into a windowless interior room such as a closet or bathroom on the lowest floor of the house with no exterior walls, preferably one without any windows. Before entering this safe room, I will grab essential items such as medications and documents in waterproof cases, flashlights with extra batteries, bottled water, non-perishable snacks/foods and a battery-operated radio for updates about the storm’s progress. Once inside this safe room we should crouch down against an interior wall away from windows and doors while covering ourselves with blankets or pillows for added protection from debris. We should also stay alert during the entire tornado if possible by listening carefully for weather warnings or changes in wind direction that could indicate potential danger outside our safe space.