By Karla Sullivan
Insurers are rushing today to the seven states hit yesterday by a total of 30 tornadoes, some of which caused fatalities, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Standard homeowners and business policies cover wind damage to the structure of insured buildings and their contents, if caused by hurricanes, tornadoes or thunderstorms.
FEMA’s Monday, April 28, Daily Briefing said 15 of the 30 tornadoes on Sunday, April 27, struck Arkansas, with the balance touching down in Iowa (5), Kansas (4), and Nebraska (3). Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma were the site of one tornado each yesterday, according to FEMA. Sixteen of the 19 reported fatalities occurred in Arkansas, FEMA’s briefing added. Two unconfirmed deaths occurred in Oklahoma, and another in Kansas.
What can you do to prepare for severe weather that includes tornadoes? The Red Cross offers safety tips beginning with understanding the difference between a tornado watch and warning;
Know your communities warning system
Take siren alerts seriously
Secure outdoor furniture
Select a safe room in your home, basement, interior room or storm cellar
If you are in a car, try to drive to the nearest building for safety.
Flying debris on the road….stay in the car, lower your head from the windows and keep your seat belt fastened
Make sure your homeowners insurance is adequate for losses
If in an office building, a stairwell is usually safe but always in a windowless area
Mobile homes are not safe during a tornado
Tornadoes are among the largest causes of insured losses in any given year, accounting for 36 percent of all insured losses since 1983. They can strike with little warning so it is essential to be ready. Large hail, dark greenish clouds, and the roar like a train are some of the first signs that a tornado may be approaching.
