A J.C. Hart Apartment Community in Greenwood, IN

Severe Weather Safety: How To Prepare For A Tornado In An Apartment In Greenwood

October 07, 2025
Penrose on Mass exterior during a bright sunny day.

Residing in the Midwest, you can count on extreme weather every year. Chances are, your region will even experience a tornado warning from time to time. While most people know how to shelter in a house during a tornado, the guidance for apartment inhabitants is not as straightforward. If you don’t have a lower level to seek refuge in, here’s how to prepare for a tornado in an apartment in Greenwood.

Tornado Sirens? Where To Seek Shelter In Your Apartment Building

A bathroom with a shower on the left and towel rack and abstract artwork on the right. Then facing an open walk in closet with shelving and hangers

If the tornado sirens sound outside your Greenwood apartment, where do you take shelter? A limited number of apartments have lower levels. You might not even live on the first floor.

While a small number of tornadoes are powerful enough to level a sizeable apartment building, smaller ones can still uproot trees, remove roofs, or drive objects through windows. Always find shelter during tornado warnings or high winds in one of these locations:

  • The sub-level of an underground parking garage
  • The lowest floor of your apartment building, and away from windows
  • A ground-floor neighbor’s apartment
  • Interior halls or stairwells without windows
  • A closet or interior room of your apartment
  • Underneath a heavy table
  • Within the bathtub with a heavy blanket for protection

When you hunker down, don a bicycle helmet or cover your head with a large pillow.

Prepare Ahead Of Time For Severe Weather

A contemporary apartment kitchen, dining room, and entryway

The smartest way to prepare for a tornado in your apartment in Greenwood is to keep up with weather alerts and plan in advance. Your plan needs to include emergency supplies if you become trapped in your home or must evacuate. Pick a designated location to stow your emergency kit and pack these items:

  • Portable radio
  • Flashlight
  • Spare batteries
  • Spare set of apartment and car keys
  • Smartphone charger
  • Cash
  • Medical kit
  • Photocopy of your license or identification card
  • Shelf-stable snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Crucial medications
  • Pet essentials

Examine these items twice a year to verify they still work, and replenish the water and snacks. When you hear a tornado warning, take appropriate clothing and shoes with you when sheltering.

Severe winds can easily damage power lines in your community. For power outages, keep these supplies at the ready:

  • Shelf-stable food that doesn’t need to be cooked
  • Battery-operated lights
  • A power bank for charging your phone

When prepared, you’ll endure any emergency better and feel more reassured.

What Not To Do During A Tornado

Everyone thinks it couldn’t possibly happen to them. You can avoid injuries or worse during a storm by avoiding unnecessary danger. Take cover right away and don’t

  • Use an elevator during a tornado
  • Look out the window
  • Stand outside
  • Shelter under shelves, heavy well decor, or tall furniture

Make Bayshore Your Home In All Sorts Of Weather!

We can’t prevent tornadoes, but we can offer an exceptional apartment living experience at Bayshore Apartments! You’ll feel right at home in one of our distinctive apartments surrounded by life-enhancing amenities in a beautiful community. Dial 317-886-1849 or arrange a tour to discover why we’re a sought-after place to reside in Greenwood.