Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms and can strike with little or no warning. Within minutes, a tornado can destroy entire neighborhoods and leave a path of devastation that stretches for miles.
This information is specific to manufactured home owners and will help you protect yourself against these fierce storms and learn where to take shelter if a tornado does strike.
If the weather in your area seems threatening, tune into a local television or radio station. Listen carefully for weather advisories. Beware of a dark or greenish sky, hail, or the roaring “train” sound of an approaching tornado. Remember that a cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado, even when a funnel cloud isn't visible.
When a tornado warning is given, seek shelter immediately and stay there until the danger has clearly passed.
If you're inside your manufactured home when a tornado warning is issued, leave it immediately. Even manufactured homes with secure tie-downs can be overturned by a tornado.
An underground shelter is almost always the safest place to be during severe storms. Many manufactured home parks have an office or community building with a reinforced basement or tornado shelter. If a park building is not available, find shelter in the basement of nearby site-built homes, schools or office buildings. Use a portable radio to monitor weather conditions.
In site-built structures with no basement, interior hallways on the lowest level are usually safest. Stay away from windows, doors and exposed walls. Get under something sturdy, such as a heavy table and protect your head from falling objects and flying debris.
If you take shelter in a bathroom, lie in the bathtub. If possible, wrap yourself in coats, blankets or sleeping bags for protection against flying debris.
If there's no time to reach a safe shelter, go outside and lie flat in a nearby ditch, culvert, ravine, or depression in the ground, and cover your head with your hands. Never take shelter underneath elevated structures like a manufactured home. A tornado can pick up the home and put you in severe danger.
The aftermath of a tornado can also be very dangerous. Stay in your shelter until the official “all clear” is given. Then:
No one can stop a tornado, but you can minimize the damage to your home and protect your family by taking these practical steps ahead of time:
Keeping adequate insurance coverage for your home and personal property is one of the best investments you can make. Check your policy's coverage limits, deductibles and exclusions. If you've purchased any valuable items or made any additions to your home since your last renewal, make sure these are covered by your policy.
You can help things go smoothly at claim time by preparing a personal property inventory of your household furnishings and possessions. Take photos or a video of all your items and keep receipts of valuable items. Store your inventory in a safe deposit box or another secure place away from your home. For more information on how to create an inventory, visit our Personal Property Inventory section.
TweetIf the frame on one of your mobile home windows is warped or severely weather damaged, replace it. Even if the frames aren't warped or damaged, windows that seem to constantly need repair or adjustment should be replaced. A new, efficient window keeps cold drafts out of your manufactured home and saves you energy dollars in the long run.