{"id":23154,"date":"2013-05-23T14:31:24","date_gmt":"2013-05-23T19:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=23154"},"modified":"2013-05-23T15:00:26","modified_gmt":"2013-05-23T20:00:26","slug":"tornado-preparedness-texas-oklahoma-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/05\/23\/tornado-preparedness-texas-oklahoma-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Tornado Preparedness – Texas & Oklahoma 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0Tornado Preparedness – Texas & Oklahoma<\/strong><\/p>\n

North Texas and Oklahoma have experienced various tornados in the past few weeks. Knowing what to do when you see a tornado, or when you hear a tornado warning, can help protect you and your family. During a tornado, people face hazards from extremely high winds and risk being struck by flying and falling objects. After a tornado, the wreckage left behind poses additional injury risks. Although nothing can be done to prevent tornadoes, there are actions you can take for your health and safety.<\/p>\n

When there are thunderstorms in your area, turn on your radio or TV to get the latest emergency information from local authorities. Listen for announcements of a tornado watch or tornado warning.<\/p>\n

Important Measures To Take<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u00a0Take a few minutes with your family to develop a tornado emergency plan. Sketch a floor plan of where you live, or walk through each room and discuss where and how to seek shelter.
\n* \u00a0Show a second way to exit from each room or area. If you need special equipment, such as a rope ladder, mark where it is located.
\n* \u00a0Make sure everyone understands the siren warning system, if there’s such a system in your area.
\n* \u00a0Mark where your first-aid kit and fire extinguishers are located.
\n* \u00a0Mark where the utility switches or valves are located so they can be turned off–if time permits–in an emergency.
\n* \u00a0Teach your family how to administer basic first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in your home.
\n* \u00a0Learn the emergency dismissal policy for your child’s school.
\n* \u00a0Make sure your children know–
\n**What a tornado is<\/em>
\n**What tornado watches and warnings are<\/em>
\n**What county or parish they live in (warnings are issued by county or parish)<\/em>
\n**How to take shelter, whether at home or at school.<\/em><\/p>\n

Extra Measures for People with Disabilities or those with Access and Functional Needs<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u00a0Write down your specific needs, limitations, capabilities, and medications. Keep this list near you always–perhaps in your purse or wallet.
\n* \u00a0Find someone nearby (a spouse, roommate, friend, neighbor, relative, or co-worker) who will agree to assist you in case of an emergency. Give him or her a copy of your list. You may also want to provide a spare key to your home, or directions to find a key.
\n* \u00a0Keep aware of weather conditions through whatever means are accessible to you. Some options are closed captioning or scrolled warnings on TV, radio bulletins, or call-in weather information lines.<\/p>\n

Practicing Your Emergency Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Conduct drills and ask questions to make sure your family remembers information on tornado safety, particularly how to recognize hazardous weather conditions and how to take shelter.<\/p>\n

Writing Down Important Information<\/strong><\/p>\n

Make a list of important information. Include these on your list:<\/p>\n

* \u00a0Important telephone numbers, such as emergency (police and fire), paramedics, and medical centers.
\n* \u00a0Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your insurance agents, including policy types and numbers.
\n* \u00a0Telephone numbers of the electric, gas, and water companies.
\n* \u00a0Names and telephone numbers of neighbors.
\n* \u00a0Name and telephone number of your landlord or property manager.
\n* \u00a0Important medical information (for example, allergies, regular medications, and brief medical history).
\n* \u00a0Year, model, license, and identification numbers of your vehicles (automobiles, boats, and RVs).<\/p>\n

* \u00a0Bank’s or credit union’s telephone number, and your account numbers.
\n* \u00a0Radio and television broadcast stations to tune to for emergency broadcast information.
\n* \u00a0Storing Important Documents<\/em><\/p>\n

Store the following documents in a fire- and water-proof safe:<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u00a0Birth certificates
\n* \u00a0Ownership certificates (autos, boats, etc.)
\n* \u00a0Social security cards
\n* \u00a0Insurance policies
\n* \u00a0Will
\n* \u00a0Household inventory
\n* \u00a0List of contents of household; include serial numbers, if applicable<\/em>
\n* \u00a0Photographs or videotape of contents of every room<\/em>
\n* \u00a0Photographs of items of high values, such as jewelry, paintings, collection items<\/em><\/p>\n

Shutting Off Utilities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gas<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a tornado, DO NOT USE matches, lighters, or appliances, or operate light switches until you are sure there are no gas leaks. Sparks from electrical switches could ignite gas and cause an explosion.<\/p>\n

If you smell the odor of gas or if you notice a large consumption of gas being registered on the gas meter, shut off the gas immediately. First, find the main shut-off valve located on a pipe next to the gas meter. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the valve to the “off” position.<\/p>\n

Electricity<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a major disaster, shut off the electricity. Sparks from electrical switches could ignite leaking gas and cause an explosion.<\/p>\n

Water<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u00a0Water may be turned off at either of two locations:
\n1. At the main meter, which controls the water flow to the entire property.
\n2. At the water main leading into the home. If you may need an emergency source of fresh water, it is better to shut off your water here, because it will conserve the water in your water heater.
\n3. “L” brackets, corner brackets, or aluminum molding, to attach tall or top-heavy furniture to the wall.
\n4. Eyebolts<\/span>, to secure items located a short distance from the wall.
\n* \u00a0Attach a valve wrench to the water line. (This tool can be purchased at most hardware stores.)
\n* \u00a0Label the water mains for quick identification.<\/p>\n

Arranging and Securing Household Items<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u00a0Arrange furniture so that chairs and beds are away from windows, mirrors, and picture frames.
\n* \u00a0P lace heavy or large items on lower shelves.
\n* \u00a0Secure your large appliances, especially your water heater, with flexible cable, braided wire, or metal strapping.
\n* \u00a0Identify top-heavy, free-standing<\/span> furniture, such as bookcases and china cabinets, that could topple over.
\n* \u00a0Secure your furniture by using one of two methods.
\n* \u00a0Install sliding bolts or childproof latches on all cabinet doors.
\n* \u00a0Store all hazardous materials such as poisons and solvents–
\n* \u00a0in a sturdy, latched or locked cabinet<\/em>
\n* \u00a0in a well-ventilated area<\/em>
\n* \u00a0away from emergency food or water supplies<\/em><\/p>\n

Texas Division of Emergency Management: Tornado Preparedness:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.txdps.state.tx.us\/dem\/Preparedness\/tips\/tornadoSafetyTips.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Accessible Content for Preparedness (American Sign Language) http:\/\/www.txdps.state.tx.us\/dem\/asl\/<\/a><\/p>\n

CDC Tornado Preparedness http:\/\/www.bt.cdc.gov\/disasters\/tornadoes\/<\/a><\/p>\n

FEMA Tornado Preparedness: http:\/\/www.ready.gov\/tornadoes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Tornado Preparedness – Texas & Oklahoma North Texas and Oklahoma have experienced various tornados in the past few weeks. Knowing what to do when you see a tornado, or when you hear a tornado warning, can help protect you and…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[538,18617,471,440,1120,6745,879,18616,17,5405,18615,10465,18614,431,399,2462],"class_list":["post-23154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-emergency","tag-fore","tag-health","tag-oklahoma","tag-preparedness","tag-radio","tag-safety","tag-telephone-number","tag-texas","tag-texas-division-of-emergency-management","tag-thunderstorm","tag-tornado","tag-tornado-warning","tag-tv","tag-water","tag-weather"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-61s","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23157,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/05\/23\/texas-oklahoma-more-information-regarding-bad-weather-resources-and-others\/","url_meta":{"origin":23154,"position":0},"title":"Texas & Oklahoma – More Information regarding bad weather, resources, and others","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"May 23, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Texas Task Force 1 Deploying to Oklahoma Search & rescue teams to arrive early Tuesday morning AUSTIN \u2013 Texas Task Force 1, the state\u2019s elite search and rescue team, was activated this evening to assist local officials and first responders in Oklahoma following today\u2019s tornado outbreak. An 84-member Type 1\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/DN_logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23284,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/06\/03\/tornado-caught-deaf-family-off-guard-now-face-communication-barrier-with-relief-agencies\/","url_meta":{"origin":23154,"position":1},"title":"Tornado Caught Deaf Family Off Guard; Now Face Communication Barrier with Relief Agencies","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"June 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Tornado Caught Deaf Family Off Guard; Now Face Communication Barrier with Relief Agencies By Christiaan Patterson May 29, 2013 When the tornado on May 20th struck Moore, warning was given to the public and sirens went off. 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IT IS ABOUT HURRICANE SEASON, FIRE, SMOKE, BURGLARY, SEVERE WEATHER, TORNADO. WE HAVE TO BE READY!! RAFAEL TORRES FROM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14546,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2011\/05\/31\/fema-administrators-to-keynote-at-tdi-conference\/","url_meta":{"origin":23154,"position":4},"title":"FEMA Administrators to Keynote at TDI Conference","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"May 31, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"FEMA Administrators to Keynote at TDI Conference http:\/\/www.cepintdi.org\/home\/Announcements\/FEMAkeynoteTDIConf CEPIN's parent organization, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI) is proud to announce that W. Craig Fugate and Marcie Roth will keynote the afternoon portion of TDI's conference on Thursday, June 2nd. 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Alerts: * Some cell phone carriers push important\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23154"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23156,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23154\/revisions\/23156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}