Three tornadoes have already touched down in Manitoba this year, prompting a reminder for residents to have an emergency plan in place.
Steinbach Fire Chief Kel Toews says that tornadoes are not uncommon in Manitoba.
“There are typically seven to 10 tornadoes every year in Manitoba. And Canada’s only F5, which is a rating system for tornadoes, was in Elie in 2007. We are at the northern edge of Tornado Alley here in Manitoba, so we do get our share of tornadoes.”
This reminder comes after deadly tornadoes struck North Dakota, causing fatalities and widespread damage.
“We've been pretty lucky so far that we haven't had the devastating tornadoes like they had in North Dakota,” Toews says.
While hoping Manitoba avoids similar disasters, Toews highlights the importance of being prepared.
“They should be preparing now already before the storm is imminent. You should have a plan as far as what to do if there is a tornado and discuss that plan with all the occupants of the house, the entire family. You should have 72-hour kit ready in case a tornado does come through and there's power outages, natural gas outages, you need to be prepared to be self-sufficient for three days or 72 hours.”
Toews recommends checking the City of Steinbach website or getprepared.gc.ca for a full emergency kit checklist.
“Water, your medications, some canned food, candles, flashlight, battery operated radio,” he says are essential.
If a tornado warning is issued, Toews offers clear safety instructions.
“If you've got a basement, go into the basement. If you don't have a basement, go to a small interior room like a bathroom or even a closet. Stay away from the outside walls, stay away from windows. If you happen to be outside, lay flat in a low spot like a ditch.”
He advises drivers to avoid taking shelter under bridges if a tornado is approaching.
“You're not supposed to go under a bridge or an underpass because the winds are intensified there and it kind of funnels the debris through there too. So, one thing you're not supposed to do is park under a bridge.”
While Steinbach does not have a tornado siren, residents can stay informed through the city’s alert system, ‘Steinbach Alert Now’.
“We do have a notification system too that will notify you over the phone. If you sign up for it, you can get notifications for local emergencies that we have control over the message. You do also get the national alert ready, which will go over radio, TV, it'll break into whatever you're watching and put out the alert.”
He says it is extremely important to listen to weather warnings.
“Take them seriously. Don't be wandering outside if there's high winds or lightning.”
Toews points out that during a major storm, some people may choose to unplug their appliances.
“That's not so much for your safety. If you're concerned of power surges or lightning strikes or whatever, it may preserve the appliance itself.”
For more resources and emergency planning tips, visit: www.steinbach.ca/residents/emergency-plans/.
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