After a tornado, danger and injury are still possibilities. It is extremely important to keep the following information in mind.
- Check for injured or trapped people and call for help if immediate assistance is required.
- Give first aid, if required, but do not attempt to move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger of death or further injury. If you must move them, first stabilize the neck and back.
- If a victim is not breathing but has good pupil reflex, carefully position them for artificial respiration, clear the airway, and commence mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
- Maintain body temperature with blankets, but be sure the victim does not become overheated. Never try to feed liquids to an unconscious person.
- Remember to help neighbors who may require special assistance like people with infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
- If the electricity goes out, use flashlights or battery powered lanterns. Do not use candles, matches or open flames indoors after the tornado because of possible gas leaks.
- Check your home, especially roofs and chimneys, for structural damage. The initial check should be made from a distance. If you have any doubts about safety, have your home inspected by a professional before entering.
- Wear sturdy shoes in areas covered with fallen debris and broken glass.
- Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids inside buildings.
- If you smell gas or hear a hissing or blowing sound, open a window and leave the building. Shut off the main gas valve outside, if you can. Report the leak to the gas company from a neighbor's house. Stay out of the building. If you shut off the gas supply at the main valve, you will need a professional to turn it back on.
- Visually inspect utility lines and appliances for damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Avoid puddles. Do not step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker; call an electrician for advice.
- If water or sewer pipes are damaged, shut off the water supply at the main valve. Do not flush toilets. If water is cut off, use water from the water heater. Avoid using tap water until it has been inspected by the water company.
- Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves. Inspect the foundation to make sure that joints where the foundation and wall meet haven’t separated. On stone or concrete foundations, check to see that plate bolts is not loose.
- Listen to news reports on a battery-powered radio for the latest emergency information. Stay off the streets. If you must go out, watch for hazards created by the tornado, such as fallen objects, downed electrical wires, weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks. Stay away from damaged areas, unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organizations.
- Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations. They need to be clear for emergency calls to get through