Our Exec Dir and I were talking last week about what to do in the event of a tornado - we are located in IL and tornado season is coming up. If we have enough warning that we are in the path of one, should we let the cats out of their cages or put the free roamers in cages? Should we let the dogs into the outdoor runs or is it better to keep them inside? We do have a few interior rooms that we would gather all humans and as many animals as possible - in crates or carriers. Assuming that's still the best place to be!

Any suggestions and answers from the experts would be appreciated.

Thanks, Michelle in IL

I am so glad to see shelters thinking about disaster planning!!

The answer to these questions is very dependent on the building you have, what it is made out of and the condition it is in. My best suggestion is to contact your local fire department and ask them to do an assessment of the building. You need to know if the building will withstand a tornado and if so I would have them give you the best place to ride out that storm within the building.

As to the animals inside or out; that also depends on the building and how it will ride out a storm. The most important thing to remember is that during a tornado you must protect against flying debris. At 100 MPH a piece of straw can go through wood. Flying debris will be the cause of most injuries.,

As to the Cats in crates or out; again you must look at your building. Always try to get the people and animals to the safest part of the building. What you are looking at is the best place and situation for the cats to survive. If putting them in what ever crates or cages you have will afford them extra protection if the roof comes down than you definitely want them in the crates. You do not want these to be the portable wire cages as they will not structurally hold up.

What ever you decide put your plan down on paper and make that plan an all inclusive plan. Once you have the plan on paper practice it. You will not be able to find out what works and what does not work with a plan until you do a full scale practice.

I think the most important thing to remember is that no matter what human life must come first. You must protect your selves first or you will not be able to help the animals.

K

Thank you so much for all the suggestions. We'll start by contacting our fire dept and go from there!

Michelle,
Just echoing Kay's sentiments - it's wonderful to see people planning for potential disasters before they happen! Good luck with all your preparations!
Mindy

Here is another idea.
Defitnally talk to your local fire dept. But also your EMA Director. They will have buildings on paper that will withstand differant strengths. Also you can get with the county to find out what the local county Animal disaster plan is. We have one here in this county done a couple of years ago.

Remember if its a mobile home or a brick house. Differant size Tornadoes, winds, etc are going to effect the humans, animals and contents widely. Find out what the structures are rated for.

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I grew up in northern IL. Yes, reinforce your building where you can. But think outside the box. Check FEMA and the internet for information on preparing buildings for HURRICANES. I think that gets more study and press, and the intense rotating winds would be quite similar. For instance, there are brackets called "hurricane clips" that are used to fasten the roof trusses to the walls of the building so the wind will not lift the roof up. Also, see if there's some association of building contractors who might have info on building in hurricane prone areas. Forget the hurricane shutters; great idea, but you'd never get them up in time. So if you don't have a basement, an inner room without windows would be your safest shelter. Do NOT put the dogs out in their runs, they're in danger from flying debris. Do NOT let the cats loose in the house; one broken window and they will have an escape route to the outdoors. As someone pointed out, wire crates can be bent by debris. Also, if bent, you might not be able to get the doors open again to get the pet out. Plastic crates will dent in, but can often be popped out again. Keep a supply of food and water in your shelter. Debris and downed wires might keep you from getting out for a day or two afterward. I was in NOLA after Katrina, and we had a bad thunderstorm, and later a tornado pass near by. Some of the cats freaked out in their cages and many were nervous. I think they were reacting to the drop in barometric pressure. But I'm not sure if they would always do this or if they were remembering the hurricane and expecting another. A loud storm could freak out any pet, so having them in crates will make them safer to handle. Milwaukee isn't exactly in tornado alley, but we still get them. I would love to hear what other suggestions people have.

AFTER posting my last reply, I went to sugn up for the Earthquake Awareness workshop, and I found this site; www.safehomeillinois.org. It's about building for wind damage mitigation. It seems to focus on new construction, but they must also have info on retrofitting buildings. Check it out!

Michelle, where in IL is your shelter located? If you can send me a mailing address, I picked up some info at the Earthquake Preparedness seminar that I think might be usefull to you. One iten is a CD with info on storm resistant construction. Another item is the name of who to contact at FEMA to see if you might qualify for financial assistance to retrofit your shelter for disaster mitigation.