We’re in South Dakota. We get tornadoes. Regularly, in fact.
So, you shouldn’t just rely on your phone’s emergency notification system because it may not wake you up, or even go off, depending on your phone’s settings.
In fact we often hear: don’t rely on sirens to wake you up and don’t rely on your phone alert to notify you.
So, what are you supposed to rely on? And what do you do if you live in an apartment and don’t have a private tornado shelter you can prepare beforehand?
More:Tornado watch issued for Sioux Falls as city still cleaning up damage from Monday storms
Set up multiple notification systems for severe weather
Sirens: These are the least helpful alerts when it comes to preparing for severe weather. Sioux Falls sirens only sound when there’s a tornado warning for the city, and they’re only intended to alert people who are outside and likely don’t have access to their phones.
If you are inside when a siren goes off, you should have other alert systems set up that have already informed you about the severe weather risk and actively seeking shelter.
Emergency phone alerts: Not all phones went off during Monday’s early morning tornado warning. While one person’s phone went off, the person in the next room reported they didn’t hear anything.
Check the settings on your phone to make sure emergency alerts are on and check your location settings. Call your provider if everything was set up correctly and you didn’t get the alert.
Weather radio: All South Dakotans should own a weather radio. In fact, given that it’s graduation season, maybe consider gifting a recent grad with their own weather radio. Even if they go to college outside of the Midwest, weather radios are handy for all severe weather. The radio is more reliable than phone alerts and its alarm will wake you up better.
For those who are hard of hearing, some weather radios have visual alerts, vibration settings or other alerts. There are also adapters available for some radios.
More:Sioux Falls officials say sirens are only for tornadoes. Not everyone agrees.
Media Alerts: If you’ve read the cell phone alerts all the way to the end of the emergency message, you might have seen something like “check media” at the end. That’s an official government notification telling you to stay updated through media channels so you understand what is happening around you.
Luckily, we have several media outlets in Sioux Falls that you can follow. This includes the Argus Leader, where you can download the Argus Leader mobile app and receive breaking news notifications ahead of the storm and during it. You can also turn on your TV to local stations KELO and Dakota News Now to watch radar updates, or you can download their weather apps and broadcast apps.
Other apps: The American Red Cross tornado app is also helpful for alerts and steps to take during an emergency.
If you don’t want to follow any of these sources, which you really should, you can find information from NWS Sioux Falls on their Facebook or Twitter accounts. You can also follow Argus911 on Facebook and Twitter for live updates on storm damage.
Turn on notifications for both the NWS Sioux Falls and Argus911 Twitter accounts to follow news more closely.
What to pack in an emergency bag
While nearly all South Dakotans know how to prepare a tornado shelter, not everyone lives in a house where they can prepare a private shelter.
Many Sioux Falls residents live in apartments, where they have to walk down stairwells to the main level or underground parking garage to take shelter with a hundred other scared neighbors.
If you live in a space where you can’t prepare a shelter space ahead of time, pack an emergency shelter bag instead, which you can bring with you as you shelter in place.
Stock the shelter bag with what you would normally stock an emergency shelter with. Keep in mind to pack necessary items in case you can’t return to your home within 24 hours of the storm.
Here’s a list of what to pack, according to Ready.Gov:
Basic emergency supply kit:
- Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Additional items to pack, according to the site, include:
- Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
- Prescription medications. About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.
- Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
- Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash or traveler’s checks
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
The site storing items in plastic bags and to put all disaster supplies in one or two easy-to-carry containers, like a plastic bin or duffel bag.
Not included on the list, but recommended by the Argus Leader is your pet’s leash and harness, which is especially important for communal shelter spaces filled with other pets or if you will have to keep your pet from running away post-storm.
Replace expired items in your emergency bag as needed, and check on your bag a couple times a year to see if it should be updated.
While you should have an emergency bag prepared at home, you should also have one for work and another in your vehicle.
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