Safety After a Tornado
SOURCE: EPIC
A tornado’s impact on a community can be devastating. Recovering from a tornado’s destruction takes time and can be dangerous; it is important to look after both your physical and emotional well-being. Use the tips below to keep you, your family, and your community safe during the recovery process.
Stay tuned to emergency information channels using your phone, battery-powered radio, or television.
Use personal protective equipment during the inspection and clean-up. Wear boots or sturdy shoes, long pants, long sleeves, and gloves when walking near or handling debris.
Take care of your emotional health. See the section below and follow the links to learn more.
Keep pets on a leash or in a carrier during transport or when outside. Pets can become confused and even get lost after an emergency as landmarks and familiar scents have changed. Protect pets from debris, downed power lines, and other hazards, including wildlife that may have been disrupted by the tornado.
REMEMBER: Never use generators; pressure washers; camp stoves; grills; or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, garage, or camper. They should also not be used outside near an open window, door, or vent. They should be at least 20 feet away from your home or business. These devices produce carbon monoxide (CO), an invisible gas with no odor that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Seek immediate medical attention if you think you or someone else may have CO poisoning.
It is very common to feel worry, stress, anxiety, and grief during and after a disaster. An event such as a tornado affects people differently, especially children. Give yourself the space to acknowledge these feeling and track how they change over time.
Follow these steps to help you and others cope:
Share your feelings with a friend or family member.
Take breaks and make time to unwind. Try to return to activities that you enjoy.
Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage after the event.
Try to eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and other drugs.
Ask for help. Talk to a counselor, doctor, or clergy member. You can also contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
CDC’s Ready Wrigley activity book “Coping After a Disaster” is a great resource to help kids begin processing their feelings after an emergency. Other activities, games, and resources relating to children and disasters can be found here.