Emergency Kit for Tornado Season: What You Need

Tornadoes can develop quick, so preparation needs to happen before severe weather arrives. Part of that preparation includes having an emergency kit for tornado season.

Having an emergency kit for tornado season means essential supplies and information are already in one place when it's time to take shelter, giving households the time needed to stay safe.

This guide will include essential information including what you need to build your emergency kit for tornado season, preparing your household, understanding tornado alerts, and knowing what to do during a warning.

What Should Be in an Emergency Kit for Tornado Season?

An emergency kit for tornado season should include the essentials you and your family may need before, during, and after severe weather. From staying informed when warnings are issued to navigating power outages, having the right supplies ready ahead of time can help you act quickly when every second counts.

According to FEMA, these are the essential items needed for an emergency kit.

NOAA Weather Radio

Getting reliable information ahead of a storm is incredibly crucial to keeping your household safe. According to a national survey, 61% of Americans are completely dependent on their cell phones for severe weather alerts. However, cell phone towers can become delayed, overwhelmed, or destroyed in a tornado. That's why it's important to have multiple ways of receiving alerts.

NOAA Weather Radio is a 24/7 broadcast of severe weather information and alerts. These alerts come directly from the National Weather Service, the most reliable source! As soon as the NWS issues a watch or warning, your NOAA Weather Radio will sound, often times making it the fastest way to get life-saving alerts.

Midland's NOAA Weather Radios are the first line of defense at home. Keep our desktop radios plugged in with battery back up for power outages. We recommend keeping your NOAA Weather Radio in a centralized location like the kitchen, living room, or master bedroom.

Our portable emergency crank radios provide the same life-saving alerts, but move with you as you change locations. They also contain multiple power sources like a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, solar, and hand crank so they're great for prolonged power outages caused by severe weather. Some of our portable models (ER310PRO and ER310) can also charge up your cell phone! They also have other features like a flashlight, AM/FM radio, and more.

Flashlights and Emergency Lighting

Severe weather can leader to power outages, so reliable lighting is an important part of your emergency kit for tornado season. Keep flashlights or headlamps in your kit so they're easy to access while sheltering and available if the power goes out during or after the storm.

Headlamps can be especially useful because they keep your hands free while moving through dark spaces, checking on family members, or handling other emergency supplies. Pack extra batteries for any battery-powered lights and check them regularly to make sure they're ready when you need them.

Backup Power and Charging Supplies

Severe weather like tornadoes can easily create issues with power outages. Strong winds, actual tornadoes, and downed trees can take down power lines easily and instantly. And typically, crews can't get out to service those lines until the storm has passed. You never know how long your area could be without power.

Portable power banks can keep your phone charged up so you can still reach family members in other households, reach emergency personnel, or check in on friend and neighbors. Not to mention, you can stay entertained during the power outage with the help of these devices if they're powered up.

To accompany those portable power banks, ensure you've got the right cords and cables for your devices and the others phones in the household.

It's important to have battery or hand-crank back up options like Midland's ER310PRO and ER310 to help charge up those other devices.

Food and Water

Following a disaster or severe weather, there might be power outages for several days.

When it comes to water, FEMA suggests having one gallon per person per day for several days. This water can be used for both drinking and sanitation.

Stocked canned foods, dry mixes, and other staples that don't require the fridge, cooking, or water are a must have. Some ideas from FEMA include:

Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables (plus a can opener)
Protein or fruit bars
Dry cereal or granola
Peanut butter
Dried fruit
Canned juices
Food for infants

First-Aid Kit and Medications

Injuries can happen during or after severe weather, so keep basic first-aid supplies readily available in your tornado emergency kit. Your kit should also account for the individual medical and health needs of everyone in your household.

Here's what to include:

Adhesive bandages in multiple sizes
Sterile gauze and medical tape
Antiseptic wipes
Antibiotic ointment
Disposable gloves
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Tweezers and small scissors
Prescription medications
Inhalers and other necessary medical devices
Extra glasses or contact lens supplies
Copies of important medical information
Any household-specific medical supplies

Important Documents and Personal Essentials

Your emergency kit for tornado season should include important documents and personal items you may need if severe weather damages your home or forces you to leave. Keep copies of essential documents in a waterproof, portable container so they're protected and easy to grab.

Consider including:

Copies of identification, insurance information, and other important documents
A written list of emergency contacts and phone numbers
Cash in small bills
Personal hygiene products
Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
Feminine hygiene products
An extra set of clothing
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
Work gloves
Spare house and vehicle keys

Sturdy shoes and work gloves can be especially important after a tornado, when broken glass, debris, and other hazards may be present. Keep these essentials together with the rest of your emergency supplies so they're easy to access when needed.

Emergency Communication Tools

Powerful and nasty tornadoes can take down cell towers or significantly damage them leaving most people without a way to communicate. When cell service and internet is out, people need to reach one another, especially after an emergency or severe storm.

Two-way radios like FRS/GMRS don't rely on cell phone or internet connection and that's what makes them the perfect tool for emergency preparedness.