Tornado, Calgary storms prompts emergency preparedness

The storm in Okotoks and parts of Calgary came and went quickly Monday afternoon, but for those caught in the thick of it, it was less than ideal conditions to navigate.

While tornado activity isn’t common in the area, it’s not unheard of.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says there were multiple reports of the twister in Okotoks, but no damage was mentioned.

In addition to the tornado, the agency says the storm brought severe winds and large hail.

The tornado 20 kilometres south of the city was the latest after an EF4 tornado hit 12 Didsbury homes with a maximum wind speed of 275 kilometres per hour.

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Carol Henke, a spokesperson with the Calgary Fire Department, says the disaster risk in Calgary is elevated during storm season.

And we can lessen the impact by having a plan in place.

“Take shelter in the basement or the lowest level of your home or building immediately if a tornado is imminent, needs to be a small interior room with no windows, like a closet or under the stairs and stay near the wall under a sturdy piece of furniture,” Henke said.

And while the instinct may be to pull over and wait for the weather to clear, Henke says that’s exactly what you shouldn’t do.

“I understand that people want to protect their vehicles; however, it also impedes other vehicles from travelling down that road, and underpasses can be low lying areas that can quickly flood, and then you don’t know exactly how deep that water is,” she explained.

“It doesn’t take much water to make a vehicle challenging to drive to push it in one direction.”

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She adds that if windshield wipers aren’t working properly, it still can make it very difficult to see where you’re going.

There could be hazards under the water from the rainwater that’s washed things onto the road.

“So really, the best thing to do is — if you possibly can — stay put, don’t get in your vehicle and drive,” Henke said.

If there is a tornado warning for your area, it’s important to put as many walls between you and the outside, stay clear of windows, and, if you are driving, seek indoor shelter as quickly as possible.

-With files from Lauryn Heintz