The Risk Educator

Earlier this week, my phone’s weather alert sounded the alarm over the possibility of tornado activity in Central Illinois. And, I was reminded of two things:

• The importance of installing weather apps on your phone, and
• Natural disasters are seasonless.

Obviously, tornadoes (and other weather-related events) are not obligated to the calendar. Although peak tornado season is typically April through June, tornadoes come whenever the conditions are ripe – like in July. They are not charged a late fee for being off by a month. The calendar must not dictate your preparedness either. Mother Nature is in charge; we must adapt.

Make your smart phone work for you by adding a tornado alert. There are many out there that you can download at no charge, such as one from the Red Cross. I’m a strong advocate for weather alerts on one’s phone, specifically for events that may occur after dark. You don’t see the sky change at nightfall, and you might have mere minutes to get out of harm’s way.  

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average advance warning time for a tornado is 13 minutes.  When those tornado sirens go off, you better have a plan. Know what to do during a tornado because you must think fast!

There are all types of myths about tornado defense. Get the facts here: Know what's true and what's not about tornadoes: University of Illinois Extension

It’s always tornado season.