Strong winds, including squalls and tornadoes

Strong winds, squalls, and tornadoes are natural disasters that can occur at any time of the year.

Forecasters classify them as extreme events with a moderate rate of spread, which is why storm warnings can usually be issued.

Dangers posed by strong winds, squalls, and tornadoes:

- Injury, and sometimes death, of people;

- Destruction of engineering structures and life support systems, roads and bridges, industrial and residential buildings, especially their upper floors and roofs; - Toppling of telegraph poles, uprooting of trees, and creation of blockages;

- Destruction of gardens and crops in fields.

Strong winds are usually accompanied by heavy rains, which can lead to flooding of the area.

Actions to take when facing the threat of a natural disaster and receiving a storm warning:

Listen carefully to information on television and radio about the situation (time, direction, and strength of the wind), and recommendations on how to act.

Remain calm, warn your neighbours, and provide assistance to disabled persons, children, and the elderly.

Prepare your documents, clothing, and gather the most essential and valuable items, a small supply of food for several days, drinking water, medications, a pocket flashlight, and a battery-powered radio.

Prepare for power outages, turn off gas valves, and extinguish fires in stoves.

Remove property from yards and balconies into the house (basement), trim dead trees that could harm your home, and park your car in the garage.

Place items that could fall and cause injury on the floor. Do not place beds near windows with large panes.

Close windows, doors, attic hatches, and ventilation openings tightly; tape window glass and, if possible, protect it with shutters or shields. Teach children how to act during a natural disaster.

Do not send them to kindergarten or school on such days.

Move to a sturdy, permanent building, take shelter in a basement or a cellar away from trees and houses.

Keep animals in a sturdy pen, and securely close doors and gates. If you are in a boat and receive a storm warning or observe approaching bad weather, immediately head for the shore.

Actions during a natural disaster:

Remain calm, avoid panic, and if necessary, provide assistance to disabled persons, children, the elderly, and neighbours.

Close windows and move away from them. Extinguish fires in stoves, and disconnect electricity and gas supplies.

Gather documents, clothing, essential and valuable items, food supplies for several days, drinking water, medications, a flashlight, and a battery-powered radio.

Move to a safe location.

Take shelter in interior rooms – a corridor, bathroom, pantry, or basement.

Turn on the radio to receive information.

Do not attempt to move to another building – this is dangerous.

Do not use elevators. The power supply may be suddenly switched off.

If you are caught outdoors by strong winds, avoid unstable buildings and houses with shaky roofs. They can collapse very quickly. If possible, take shelter in the basement of the nearest building.

If you are in an open area, lie down on the ground in any depression (ravine, ditch, roadside ditch), protecting your head with clothing or tree branches.

Stop if you are travelling by car. Do not hide in the car; exit it and quickly seek shelter in a sturdy building or in the bottom of any depression.

Avoid various high-risk structures, bridges, overpasses, pipelines, power lines, bodies of water, potentially hazardous industrial facilities, and trees.

Do not approach the water to watch a storm; strong winds create huge waves at sea that crash onto the shore. You could be killed.

Actions after a natural disaster:

Remain calm, comfort children and those who have suffered psychological trauma as a result of the disaster, and assess the situation.

If possible, help the victims and call for medical assistance for those who need it.

Ensure that your dwelling has not sustained damage.

Visually inspect the condition of the electricity, gas, and water supply networks. Be sure to boil drinking water.

Do not use open flames, lighting, heating appliances, or gas stoves. Do not turn them on until you are sure there is no gas leak.

Check for fire hazards. If necessary, report to the emergency services.

Do not use the telephone, except to report a serious danger. Do not use elevators. The power grid may be shut down.

After the wind has subsided, do not go outside immediately – a gust may repeat in a few minutes.

Be very careful when leaving your home.

Beware of: parts of structures and objects hanging over buildings; broken wires from power lines; broken glass and other sources of danger.

Stay away from buildings, power poles, high fences, and other structures.

Do not rush to inspect the city, do not visit areas of destruction unless your help is needed there.

Inquire with local state authorities and local self-government bodies about the addresses of organisations responsible for providing assistance to the affected population.