Proof That Urban Areas Such As Chicago Are Vulnerable To Tornados Was On Full Display This Week

It felt all too real and close to home with the emergency sirens going off up and down the lakeshore, and news reports of tornados spotted near Midway, O’Hare and the Loop.

We periodically post about severe weather awareness in the Spring, as we did earlier this year. It is important to remember that Chicago and its high-rises are not immune. Tornadoes can and have hit they city in the past. Violent winds have done damage right here a Park Tower several times in the past. Thankfully to date, we have dodged anything life threatening to occupants. But wind, damaging hail, dangerous lightning and yes…tornados…are a risk. They can hit suddenly and sometimes without any warning at all.

With this weeks extreme weather, the question came up – What should you do or NOT do if severe weather is approaching or you hear warning sirens OR if it hits suddenly at Park Tower? The simplest answer is to go directly to an enclosed, windowless area as close as possible to the center of the building, away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. The main hallways are a good spot, and interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter. If the stairs are not crowded, move to a lower level if possible, but it really should not be necessary. The core structure of Park Tower surrounding the elevator shafts and stairwells is very strong.  If you are forced to remain in a more exposed location, crouch down and cover your head. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost!

There is no perfect protocol for responding to such weather. Variables such as timing, speed, severity and your location, can make for big differences in how we may need to respond. Not to mention, when things are happening fast, your mind can end up in a fog. However, keeping just a handful of suggestions and procedure in mind can help you be prepared in most situations:

• When severe weather is anticipated, stay tuned to local broadcast stations or The Weather Channel, for regular updates. Stay aware of current conditions.
• When storms move in, remain calm – but act quickly and with purpose!
• Avoid WINDOWS – never open or go to a window.
• When the National Weather Service issues a “severe thunderstorm warning” or “tornado warning” for Cook County or Chicago, it is safest in an interior room (bathroom) in your unit.  Crouch facedown and cover your head with your arms, or you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (bath towels, blankets, etc.) to protect against falling debris.
• For tornados or very severe wind conditions, if you have time make your way to the nearest stairwell in your hallway and wait for the weather to pass.
• Avoid using an elevator during severe weather.  Power can fail and cause entrapment.  Wait for the weather to pass or use the stairs.
• On the 1st floor, never go to the lobby. Severe winds can cause dangerous flying debris and shatter windows and glass. Proceed to the nearest stairwell and move slowly and safely without panic to 1P or 2P.
• For more tips, read the State Of Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s “Severe Weather Preparedness Guide: Click Here

Want to be prepared like a champ? Consider maintaining a survival kit in case of emergency.  Here are some helpful tips on what you should include in a survival kit:

• First aid kit that includes, bandages, eyewash, iodine. You can usually find kits at Target, Sam’s Club, Costco, Walmart or any other chain stores.
• AM/FM Radio with back-up batteries
• Flashlights; technology has greatly improved with options for flashlights that need no batteries.  LED lamps and kinetic energy where you squeeze, shake, or crank the flashlight to get it going.  Just google “No battery flashlight.”
• Whistle
• Bottled water and canned foods (check the expirations each Spring)
• Work gloves
• Pocket tools
• Duct tape

You can get a complete list of survival kits or emergency preparedness by going to the computer and doing a “GOOGLE SEARCH” for “Severe Weather Preparedness“.

Here are some great videos from The Weather Channel Online too – not all relevant to high-rises, but great severe weather related information:

• 6 Severe Weather Safety Tips You Might Not Have Thought Of https://weather.com/safety/thunderstorms/video/6-severe-weather-safety-tips-you-might-not-have-thought-of?pl=pl-safety-prep
• From The Weather Channel Android App: 10 Tornado Myths Debunked: Fact Vs. Fiction https://weather.com/safety/tornado/video/10-tornado-myths-debunked-fact-vs-fiction?pl=pl-safety-prep

In the event VERY severe weather is impacting safety here at the building or in the aftermath of an event resulting in significant damage, we will do our best to quickly communicate any alerts or information Park Tower residents and owners may need. If you are not already on our e-mail list, we encourage you to join by e-mailing us a request to parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com.

We can also quickly communicate important information to Park Tower owners and residents, via the PTCA SMS text notification service. Simply follow the instructions below, and use your cell phone to subscribe to the category of messages you are interested in. The text service is just for those interested in alerts, reminders and messages that would be more helpful delivered faster and more efficiently. (This would be particularly helpful in the aftermath of a damaging weather event, to keep residents informed and to get the word out fast to help with any recovery efforts.)

There are three categories to which you can subscribe:

Emergencies – Fires, floods, active shooters, power outages etc.

To subscribe to this notification service, text “PTCAalerts” to 94253

Notices – Meetings, business and activity announcements and reminders.

To subscribe to this notification service, text “PTCAnotices” to 94253

Maintenance – Elevator, water and other service outages, as well as repairs, construction and project announcements.

To subscribe to this notification service, text “PTCAmaintenance“ to 94253

PLEASE REMEMBER: In any emergency, Do Not Panic! BUT Move quickly and with purpose!