Even if you live outside "Tornado Alley", the area of the country that runs north from Texas through eastern Nebraska and northeast to Indiana, you are still vulnerable to tornadoes. Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas may see more of these unpredictable and dangerous storms than other states, but the rest of the country also gets its share of twisters.

You don't have to be blown away when nature lets loose. It's never too early to prepare and you can take several basic steps right now to protect your family and your home from disaster.

Structures built to meet or exceed current model building codes for high-wind regions have a much better chance of surviving violent windstorms. The Standard Building Code, promulgated by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., is one source for guidance on fortifying your home against fierce winds. Although no home can withstand a direct hit from a severe tornado, good construction will help your home survive if it's to the side of the tornado's path.

If you're handy with a hammer and saw, you can do much of the work yourself. Work involving your home's structure may require a building contractor, however, or even a registered design professional such as an architect or engineer.

WHEN WORKING OUTSIDE

• Replace gravel/rock-landscaping material with shredded bark.
  
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your house.
  

WHEN BUILDING OR REMODELING

• Windows: If you are replacing your existing windows, install impact-resistant window systems, which are more likely to stand up to wind-borne debris. These window systems are commonly available in hurricane-prone areas. If you are unable to find them locally, you can order them from manufacturers or home improvement stores in coastal areas.
  
  
• Entry Doors: Make certain your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt security lock with a bolt at least one inch long. Anchor door frames securely to wall framing.
  
  
• Patio Doors: Sliding glass doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors. If you are replacing your patio doors or building a new home, consider installing impact-resistant door systems made of laminated glass, plastic glazing or a combination of plastic and glass.
  
  
• Garage Doors: Because of their size and construction, garage doors are highly susceptible to wind damage. A qualified inspector can determine if both the door and the track system can resist high winds and, if necessary, replace them with a stronger system.
  
  Garage doors more than eight feet wide are most vulnerable. Install permanent wood or metal stiffeners. Or contact the door manufacturer's technical staff for recommendations about temporary center supports that you can attach and remove easily when severe weather threatens.
  
  
• Roofs: If you are replacing your roof, take steps to ensure that both the new roof covering and the sheathing it attaches to will resist high winds. Your roofing contractor should:
  
  
  • Remove old coverings down to the bare wood sheathing.
    
    
  • Remove enough sheathing to confirm that rafters and trusses are securely connected to the walls.
    
    
  • Replace damaged sheathing.
    
    
  • Refasten existing sheathing according to the proper fastening schedule outlined in the current model building code for high-wind regions.
    
    
  • Install a roof covering that is designed to resist high winds. Also consider using a double-layer application of heavier felt roofing paper, secured with sufficient tin tabs, to avoid water damage.

If you want to give your roof sheathing added protection, but it's not time to re-roof, glue the sheathing to the rafters and trusses. Use an adhesive that conforms to Performance Specification AFG-Ol developed by APA -The Engineered Wood Association, which you can find at any hardware store or home improvement center.

• Gables: Brace the end wall of a gable roof properly to resist high winds. Check the current model building code for high-wind regions for appropriate guidance, or consult a qualified engineer or architect.
  
  
• Connections: The points where the roof and the foundation meet the walls of your house are extremely important if your home is to resist high winds and the pressures they place on the entire structure.
  
  • Anchor the roof to the walls with metal clips and straps (most easily added when you replace your roof).
  • Make certain the walls are properly anchored to the foundation. A registered design professional can determine if these joints need retrofitting, and a qualified contractor can perform the work the design professional identifies.
    
  • If your house has more than one story, make certain the upper story wall framing is firmly connected to the lower framing. The best time to do this is when you remodel.