Tornado Alley typically refers to the east and midwest part of the U.S., although tornadoes are possible in all fifty states. In North Dakota, Cass County faces the highest risk of tornadoes with Burleigh and Ward counties facing moderate risk. Because formation of tornadoes is not fully understood, the reason these areas are most at risk is unclear. This information is based on historical occurrences in those areas.
Tornado
Tornadoes don’t give much warning, and when they hit, the damage can be devastating. Entire neighborhoods can be flattened in minutes, and families may lose their homes, cars, and cherished possessions. Power and communication lines are often down, making it harder to reach loved ones or get updates. The chaos afterward can be just as hard—dealing with insurance, finding somewhere to stay, and trying to piece life back together after such a sudden, traumatic event.
The National Weather Service defines a tornado as a violently rotating column of air touching the ground, usually attached to the base of a thunderstorm. Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris.
Tornadoes forms when intense thunderstorms begin moving in a cyclical pattern and generate strong winds. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is still working to fully understand how tornadoes form.
Be Prepared
- In addition to knowing your community’s resources for disaster response, you should be aware of any safe locations the community has designated for shelter in case you’re not home when a disaster hits. Some communities may concentrate their resources around community-based buildings such as churches, or safety may best be sought in durable brick or concrete buildings that can withstand high levels of water and wind. Take time to view our county resources tab and locate the resources available in your community.
- It’s also important to identify a route from your house, through your neighborhood, to a safer location within your community or in another community. Take time to view a map of your neighborhood and determine where the streets near your home lead to.
- Cut back trees and branches that could blow into windows.
- Install storm windows and storm doors to protect your exterior doors and windows.
- Have your roof inspected every 10 years to ensure its strength.
- Remove loose rock debris from your landscaping.
- Ensure your home’s foundation is sturdy. If you live in a manufactured home, ensure it’s secured to a foundation and can’t be moved.
- If you know high winds are likely to occur, secure outdoor item such as patio furniture, recreation equipment, or law care equipment.
- Keep a battery powered radio, wireless hotspot, and phone chargers in a central location so you can stay connected and informed about changing weather conditions.
- Identify a room in your home that doesn’t have windows or doors leading outside where you can shelter if a tornado occurs.
- Once you are safe, contact loved ones that may be in the affected area to ensure they are safe.
- If you are on the road when a tornado starts, try to make it to a sturdy building as quickly as possible.
- If no buildings are nearby, abandon your vehicle and lay on the ground below the roadway (such as a ditch or sewer opening) and cover your head.
- If you cannot get below the roadway, lay on the floor of your vehicle and cover your head.
- If you’re driving in the path of the tornado, make right turns until you’re out of the tornado’s path.
- Create a disaster kit that can be moved quickly if evacuation is necessary.
- Ensure everyone in your family or household is aware of the disaster plan.
Loss and Need
Legal documents
A disaster victim may have lost their birth certificate, driver’s license or other state ID, social security card, marriage license, name change documents, titles and deeds to property, and other legal documents in the disaster. Loss of these documents may make accessing public benefits and disaster resources more difficult.
Housing
- Housing can be partially or completely destroyed in a disaster. Renters whose housing has become unlivable may need assistance canceling a lease, finding replacement housing, obtaining rental assistance, transferring existing housing assistance to other housing authorities, or even getting timely repairs from their landlord.
- Disaster victims who own their home may need help filing insurance claims, appealing insurance denials or appraisals, applying for public repair assistance, preventing foreclosure, or recovering from a general contractor who isn’t complying with the repair contract.
- Any disaster victim who needs to access new housing because their residence was completely destroyed in a disaster may also face housing discrimination. If you feel you’ve experienced housing discrimination, please contact High Plains Fair Housing Center (hyperlink: https://www.highplainsfhc.org/).
Loved ones
If you’ve lost a loved one in a disaster, there are many legal aspects to handling their estate. The person may or may not have a will or other estate plan. They may have new assets not included in their current estate plan and they may have a business or other interests whose beneficiaries are uncertain.
Valuable property
Many households own valuable property such as cars, recreational vehicles, jewelry, antiques, and family heirlooms. These items can be lost or destroyed in a disaster and that can carry a monetary and emotional loss. Some of these items may be insured or may have liens on them.
Money
There may be public resources available to help with finding a job or replacing income with public benefits. Disaster victims may need help filing for unemployment, appealing wrongful terminations, or handling bank accounts of deceased household members.
Community
Disaster victims may experience job loss, education loss, housing loss, loss of friends, or cancellation of important community programs and resources. Replacing these community resources and social needs is essential to recovering from a disaster.
Legal Services of North Dakota’s Disaster Legal Services Program can assist North Dakota residents with most of their legal needs after a disaster.
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- Access to public benefits
- Insurance – through a volunteer attorney
- Bankruptcies
- Document replacement
- Domestic violence
- Family law and custody issues
- Access to housing or housing repair
- The death of a loved one and their estate
- Consumer issues such as disaster relief scams or contractor scams
Additional Resources
Resources by County
Get help after a disaster.
Disaster Kit
Grab a disaster kit to be prepared.
Become a Volunteer
Opportunities and training available.
Additional Resources
Visit Legal Aid Disaster Center (LADRC)