With possible severe weather in this week’s forecast, be sure to have more than one way to get information about the weather and immediately take shelter if you hear a tornado siren.
The National Weather Service predicts an enhanced risk for severe weather in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, including damaging straight-line winds, large hail and possible tornadoes.
Visit okc.gov/prepare for a full list of tips and information on preparing for severe weather.
Have more than one way to get weather information
Wherever you are during a severe weather threat, be sure to have more than one way to get information about the weather. At least one method should work without electric power, without batteries and without a cellular or wifi signal.
Many weather radios have hand-powered cranks for use if you don’t have power or batteries. They’re available to buy locally at many large general merchandise retailers, and online.
Reliable sources of weather information include:
Take shelter if you hear a siren
If you hear a siren, immediately take shelter and get more information about the storm.
OKC’s outdoor warning sirens sound in and near areas where the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning or where a spotter reports a tornado. There is no all-clear signal.
OKC tests its sirens at noon on Saturdays unless there’s a threat of inclement weather.
Use OKC’s Accessible Hazard Alert System to receive alerts in American Sign Language and English voice and text.
Shelter in place
The Office of Emergency Management recommends people should shelter-in-place during tornado warnings. Oklahoma City does not have public storm shelters.
Shelter-in-place means to take shelter where you are and remain inside your home, workplace or nearby buildings.
If you don’t have a below-ground storm shelter, well-constructed homes and buildings provide life-saving protection from 98 percent of Oklahoma’s tornadoes.
Take shelter in a closet, interior hallway or other interior room with no windows on the lowest level of the house or building. Put on a helmet if you have one, and wear sturdy shoes in case you later have to walk through debris.
People who live in trailers or manufactured homes should have a plan to seek shelter in a well-constructed building nearby.
People who live on upper levels of apartment buildings should seek shelter in an apartment on the lowest level.
Vehicles are among the most dangerous places to be during a tornado. Find a nearby building to shelter in if you are driving during a tornado warning. Never seek shelter underneath a bridge or overpass.
If you are stranded outside, lie down in a ditch or low-lying area away from your vehicle.
The best way to protect yourself from tornadoes at home is to install a safe room or below-ground storm shelter. Safe rooms and storm shelters designed and built to FEMA guidelines and ICC 500 standards will protect against the force of extreme winds up to 250 mph.
Clean out shelters and closets
Clean out your storm shelters and closets to make sure they are accessible and comfortable.
Shelters should be dusted and cleaned, and their entrances should be unobstructed. If you use a closet or interior room as a tornado shelter, make sure floor space is clear and blankets, pillows, helmets and other safety items are easily accessible.
Make sure the moving parts like door hinges, latches and rollers are properly working and you have performed any preventative maintenance.
If you spray your storm shelter or safe room for bugs and insects, make sure it is properly ventilated before vacuuming it or using it.
Make a plan, and build a kit
Every household should have an emergency supply kit, and plans for what to do in weather emergencies at every location where you spend lots of time – home, work, school, church, etc.
Visit okc.gov/prepare for tips on making a plan and building a kit.
Register your storm shelter
If you have a storm shelter that is not registered with the City, do so by registering it online at this link or calling the City’s Action Center at (405) 297-2535 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Disasters and pets
- Create a plan that includes your pets and make sure everyone in the home is aware of individual expectations, communication and meeting locations.
- Always keep a collar and tag on pets. Include your name, phone number and email on the tag and write it with permanent ink on the inside of the collar. We also recommend a form of permanent identification such as a microchip or tattoo for all animals.
- Create a disaster bag for your pet. It should include a copy of your pet’s medical records, a photo of your pet, copies of your pet’s identifications, food, water, medications, leash, bowls, bedding, litter/box and a carrier to transport your pet.
- Start a buddy system with your neighbors to check on each other’s pets if you are not home after a disaster.
- Make sure your pet is free of disease and up-to-date on vaccinations so it will be accepted into a facility if necessary.
- Know the phone number and address of the Animal Shelter so you can find out about temporary evacuation locations for your pet or know where to go if you lost your pet during a disaster. Oklahoma City Animal Welfare is at 2811 SE 29th Street and can be reached at (405) 297-3100.
Thank you for your interest in Harvest Hills South Neighborhood Association.
The neighborhood voted to start the Crime Patrol. Twelve people have been trained by the OKCPD Hefner Division. Patrols started today. Be on the watch for vehicles with a flashing amber light and crime patrol magnetic signs on the vehicles. They are there to provide additional eyes for the police department. They will take note of things in the neighborhood, for example, if you forget to close your garage door they will call you to notify you. They will also report street light outage and any suspicious behavior.
It seems like every time you turn on the television, you are hearing more and more stories of shootings at schools, or at businesses. We need to be prepared and know how to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
General Meeting will be May 17th, so keep this on your calendar! Active Shooter Training and elections! We were challenged to “Fill the House”, so bring all of your neighbors! We will have great door prizes and extra tickets if you have paid your membership!
Harvest Hills South Neighborhood Association 