Storm season preparedness starts long before the sky turns. Spring storms across rural Cherokee County can bring high wind, hail, and tornadoes, often with little warning. Because we cover a large rural area, the safest plan is one your family already knows by heart.
Storm season preparedness starts with a plan
Decide now where everyone goes. An interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows, is the goal. If you live in a mobile home, identify a sturdier building nearby and know how long it takes to get there. Practice it once, so nobody is deciding under pressure.
Then agree on how you will reach each other. Cell service can fail when towers get busy or lose power. Pick an out-of-area contact everyone can text, since texts often go through when calls will not.
Know the difference between a watch and a warning
A watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather. Use that time to fuel vehicles, charge phones, and bring in loose items from the yard. A warning means severe weather is happening or imminent in your area. At that point, move to your safe spot immediately.
Keep a weather radio with battery backup, because it will wake you when your phone is silenced. The National Weather Service office in Tulsa issues the watches and warnings for our area, and it is worth knowing where to find them.
Pack what you will actually need
Keep supplies in the safe room itself, not somewhere you have to cross the house to reach. Sturdy shoes and work gloves matter more than people expect, because storm debris is sharp. In addition, pack a flashlight, spare batteries, bottled water, any daily medications, and a whistle to signal for help.
Helmets are worth keeping there too. Bike helmets work fine, and head injuries are a common cause of serious harm in tornadoes. Ready.gov keeps a straightforward checklist you can work from.
After the storm passes
Treat every downed line as energized, and stay well clear of it. Report lines and gas leaks by calling 911. Furthermore, watch your footing around damaged structures. Finally, check on neighbors who may not be able to check on themselves.
Our volunteers respond to storm damage, downed lines, and the calls that follow. Good storm season preparedness at home means fewer of those calls turn serious. If you would like to help us stay ready for that work, you can support the department or volunteer with us.
