LAFAYETTE, IN — Severe storms expected to hit the Greater Lafayette area are forcing residents to make emergency shelter plans in the event that a tornado forms.
Jeff Houston, Tippecanoe County Emergency Management Agency executive director, said as of mid-Wednesday, the most severe wave of weather is expected to hit the area by 5 p.m. That storm is the main wave emergency personnel are concerned with, as 60- to 80-mile-per hour winds and hail measuring up to 2 inches in diameter are expected.
Houston said TEMA members have seen residents’ concerns on social media, questioning where to go if they live in a mobile home or house without a basement. Tippecanoe County does not have any community storm shelters, he said, but there is still time to form a safety plan.
“Folks without a basement should get to an interior room or a room with a bathtub, and folks in trailer parks should utilize on-site storm shelters if they have one. If none of those options are available, they need to try reaching out to friends and family members who do have a basement,” Houston said. “I’ve seen the posts on social media, and if some places aren’t designated storm shelters, I would be skeptical in seeking them out for shelter.”
Shielding in a building not structured as a storm shelter by an engineer is a risk, Houston said. Tornado predictions for this storm could be the size of an F4, which could break out at any time depending on the power in the atmosphere as the storm arrives in Indiana.
It’s imperative that those with smart phones turn their notifications on.
“We want people to monitor the radar on their phones. Turn those alerts on,” Houston said. “Today is not the day to turn that stuff off. If you have an alert system, turn it on and keep your phone near you.”
Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said he recommends residents download the Tippecanoe County sheriff’s office app along with the SaferWatch app on their smart phones for local safety updates as the storm passes through.
“For us, this is a day like any other day. We will react when needed,” Goldsmith said. “We will have our normal number of deputies out, and myself and the captains will be out helping as much as we can.”
Houston said residents shouldn’t rely on waiting for tornado sirens to take shelter.
“Do not depend on outdoor warning sirens. Those will go off as soon as we go under a warning, but those are only meant to warn people who are outside,” Houston said. “They aren’t meant to warn people indoors. That’s why it’s important to keep your cell phone on you at all times.”
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette residents urged to prepare today for tornadoes
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
