You may have heard of the “Golden-age” or “Silent” generation, but the term might not mean much to you. You’ve probably never heard of Biloxi, Mississippi, either. But when it comes to tornado preparation, these two entities are becoming increasingly important to each other. Biloxi is a coastal city in Mississippi with a population of around 45,000 people. It’s known for its beaches and seafood—and not much else. But what’s inside this small town has been attracting national attention: a growing number of Golden-age adults preparing for a tornado Biloxi, MS, like never before. Here’s how they’re doing it:
Know The Facts
There are a lot of facts about tornadoes that you should know. First, they’re the most common and destructive of all-weather phenomena. Second, they can occur at any time of the year. Third, they can form in any state (including Mississippi). Fourth and lastly, tornadoes aren’t always visible because they’re often concealed by dark clouds—but their presence is often indicated by greenish vapor rising from the ground after a tornado passes through an area.
Prepare To Shelter In Place
If you are at home when a tornado warning is issued, get to the basement if you have one. If not, go to an interior room on the lowest floor and put as many walls between you and the outdoors as possible. The best places to shelter are bathrooms and interior closets, which tend to be better reinforced than other rooms. Don’t open windows under any circumstances—even if there’s debris hitting them or it sounds like something is hitting your house.
Don’t use the elevator during a tornado; stick with stairwells or other protected areas in your home. When going upstairs, keep your hands free so that you can hold onto railings for balance if necessary; don’t carry children or pets while walking upstairs during a tornado watch or warning (or even after). Similarly, don’t open doors during a tornado watch—they might come off their hinges!
Keep An Eye On The Sky
The next thing you should do if you’re in an area where tornadoes are common is to keep an eye on the sky. You can gain a good sense of whether or not there’s a tornado in your area by looking for dark clouds that form in a line, rotate (perhaps clockwise), and have no rain within them. These are known as wall clouds and are associated with rotating thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
The majority of tornado-related injuries are minor, but they can be life-threatening in the event of a major disaster. Injuries occur as people try to take cover under cars or other objects or when the debris is blown into them.
Prepare yourself by creating a kit with items such as a first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries, battery-powered radio (for updates), portable battery-powered radio (to listen for alerts), a three-day supply of food and water, phone charger for your cell phone and any medications you take daily.
Have An Emergency Contact List
It’s essential to have an emergency contact list. This should include the name and phone number of someone who can be reached in case of an emergency and their relationship with you. A close friend or relative would be ideal; if that person isn’t available, try a family member or acquaintance that lives nearby. In addition to your emergency contact, it’s also helpful to add their work number and/or cell phone number so they can reach you during non-business hours and weekends.
You can make a copy of this information by writing it down on a piece of paper or using an app on your smartphone (like Apple’s Notes). If there are other details you think would be helpful—such as whether they know CPR or have first aid training—you might want to include them too!
Conclusion
As we’ve explored in this blog post, there are several ways Golden-Age adults in Assisted living can prepare for a tornado. Each method has its pros and cons, but they all have the same goal: to keep you safe no matter what. If you live in an area that may experience tornadoes this summer (and beyond), then now is the time to start thinking about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from these dangerous storms!
