PureVolume

Documents, including your flood insurance, may be a good idea to take with you.

Tornadoes: The smaller ones can rearrange your house effectively, and simple precautions should suffice. You'll want a basement, the grab and go kit and most likely your insurance papers. The larger (F4 and F5) need below ground or a safe room to protect you. If you live where these can hit, it is well worth the investment. It could save you and your family.

One thing that is not always mentioned is what to do if you're in a vehicle when a tornado is about to strike. Do *not* stay in your vehicle. If you can, drive perpendicular to the tornado to get away from it.

If you are likely to be hit by it and you're in a vehicle, do not try to use the space under an overpass or bridge. The wind can be much stronger under these structures. Do not stay in your vehicle. It can and probably will be tossed around like popcorn kernels in a popper. Find the lowest area, preferably a ditch, and lay down in it.

We should all research the things that could happen. Being prepared does not mean we are accepting that it will happen. Instead, being prepared lets us set that bit into the background, to be used when necessary. Look into the problems you may face in your area. Knowledge is power, and sometimes, knowledge can save your life.

Until Northridge, I was teased a lot about harping on earthquake preparation. To be honest, it seems logical to me; if you know a disaster is possible, preparing is the intelligent thing to do. I came up with an idea about why people ignore preparation messages and tease those who are insistent. If you don't think about it, maybe it won't happen.

I thought I was prepared for Northridge, but there were many things I hadn't thought of. I'm sure that will be the same for any subsequent disasters, you really can't think of everything. However, there are some very important things that people should think of, even if earthquakes aren't the most likely disaster in your neck of the woods. If you can, apply what I write to whatever local dangers exist.

What we did right

Plumber's tape: It's a five minute job and probably costs about $5. Simple, really. Get that metal plumbers tape and put two straps around your water heater and attach it to a stud in the garage. Why is it important? First, that heater can represent clean, potable water. That could be at a premium if the disaster interrupts water supplies.

Second, it represents one hazard you don't have to worry about. The heater falling over could cause a gas leak, damage whatever is dampened by a leak and injure anyone standing near enough to it. In an earthquake those are good points. Central location: Our first earthquake kit was stored outside, in a clean trash can and well labeled. Bad plan; most of the contents were stolen. Therefore, the second kit was stored inside. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough space in one place for everything, so it was spread throughout the house. The Importance of Learning Earthquake Safety, Water Heaters - How Can It Improve Your Home?, northridge plumber