What You Should Have in a Tornado Emergency Kit

With tornadoes reported in the Ark-La-Tex early Monday morning, it's important for residents to review how to put together an emergency kit and what needs to be in it.

You probably have all these common items in your home; now it's time to put them in one place. Place the below items in a single large plastic container:

Blankets
Cash
Water (the general rule is one gallon of water per person per day)
A bike helmet (one for each person)
Tennis shoes (one pair for each person)
A car charger
Extra pair of car keys
Food: non-perishable
First aid kit
Battery-powered radio
An NOAA weather radio
Flashlights w/ batteries
Towelettes
Garbage bags
Wrench/pliers
Cell phone with solar charger

The next step: Select a location in your home that everyone can gather -- be it an actual tornado shelter, a basements, a center hallway, closet, bathroom or even under the stairwell.

Another good idea is to make sure you follow important local news and weather outlets on Twitter and Facebook to receive instant updates on your mobile device.