How to plan for a tornado warning if you live in a mobile home

McKenna King
·2 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Severe storms on Thursday tore through an extremely vulnerable area in central Ohio, leaving many to wonder what the best course of action is if they live in a mobile home during a tornado warning.

Multiple deaths have been reported after a series of storms and possible tornadoes ripped through Logan County and other central Ohio counties on Thursday night.

To stay as safe as possible during an event like Thursday night when living in a mobile home, follow these three steps.

Keep up with forecasting

The first step to staying safe during a tornado warning or watch is to making sure to be up-to-date on the latest weather forecast. Live weather updates can be found on NBC4.

On any day of the year, people should always have a plan in the back of their mind. Plans should include ideas for shelter spaces and emergency locations.

It’s crucial to have an evacuation route with a solid idea of how long it will take to get there.

Even after finding shelter or evacuating, it is important to make sure to have a way of receiving watches and warnings, such as on a phone or via a weather radio.

Prepare the day before

The second step to staying safe in a mobile home during severe weather is to prepare the day before. Watching Storm Team 4 and finding out about severe weather risks from the Storm Prediction Center can help give forewarning.

Once alerted ahead of time, it’s important to be prepared to execute severe weather plans. Talk with family and friends and discuss staying with them during a tornado or other weather events.

Help neighbors in the community by offering a place to stay or checking with local county emergency management to make sure shelters will be open.

The day of the severe weather

The third and final step comes on the day severe weather arrives. A tornado watch comes before a tornado warning, but for mobile home residents, a tornado watch is when it’s time to evacuate and head to sturdier shelter.

It may take several hours before a storm hits after a watch alert, but it is important not to wait until a warning. By that point, it could be too late to leave for sturdier shelter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.