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Allstate Wants Canadians to Make Preparation a Priority: Tornado Season Has Arrived

TORONTO, May 10, 2011 - Regardless of where you live, major disasters can strike at any time, so it’s important to be prepared. Many Canadians don’t realize that Canada ranks second in the world in terms of frequency of tornadoes, with an average of 80 each year. As tornado season begins, Canadians should make preparation a priority.

In Canada, tornado season runs from May to September with the highest number of tornadoes in June and early July. These violent storms can reach speeds that exceed 600 km/hour and can result in significant property damage, injuries and even fatalities.

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada wants you to be prepared for these unpredictable storms. “Knowing what to do and how to prepare will help protect you, your family and your home,” says Karen Benner of Allstate Canada. “Invest the time in preparations now so if the worst happens, you’ll know how to keep your family safe. You will also be able to more easily deal with and recover from the damage.”

Ontarians can reduce the damage to their property by following a number of safety tips and recommendations, like these ones, found at goodhandsadvice.ca:

Before a Storm, Protect Your Home:

• Find and Fix Vulnerable Areas: Consider installing impact-resistant windows or storm shutters; installing permanent wood or metal stiffeners to strengthen your garage doors; having your roof professionally inspected and keeping your yard clear of objects that may become airborne during a windstorm.
• Plan Ahead: It is important to create an emergency plan for your family. Tips for making a plan and building an emergency kit can be found at goodhandsadvice.ca/en/build-an-emergency-kit.
• Insure Your Home: Talk to your insurance representative and make sure you have the proper coverage if your home is damaged by a tornado or a windstorm.

During a Storm, Protect Your Family:

• Stay Low: The safest place during a tornado is the basement, storm cellar, or lowest level of your home. If you don’t have access to a basement move to a small interior room like a closet or bathroom or take refuge under a flight of stairs.
• Stay Inside: The inside of a building is the safest place during a tornado. If you can’t find shelter inside, lie down in a ditch or ravine and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• Stay Alert: The typical tornado first appears as a rotation in a thunder cloud, behind a shroud of heavy rain or hail. The sky can turn green, yellow or black and the storm can begin to sound like the rumble of a freight train or a jet.
• Stay Safe: Tornadoes can change directions suddenly. Never try to out-run a tornado, either on foot or in your car.

For additional tips and useful advice, visit goodhandsadvice.ca, contact your local Allstate agency or call 1-800-Allstate.

About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of Canada’s leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products. "The Good Hands Network®" enables consumers to contact Allstate Canada through one of 94 community-based Agencies, directly online at www.allstate.ca and through the Customer Contact Centre at 1-800-Allstate. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), Crime Stoppers, United Way and Junior Achievement. In 2010, Allstate Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), created the Allstate All-Canadians program, a mentorship program designed to guide the next generation of Canada’s hockey youth. Learn more at www.allstate.all-canadians.com.