Good morning Gabz!
I'm not very good at the preparedness thing. Hubby sort of scoffs at "saving" water in gallon jugs (If the house is torn apart by a tornado, what good would jugs of water in the basement do?) Ha!
Hubby does have a point.
Tornados are not something we tend to have around these parts, but I do have to store water because no electricity means no water........
If you live in an area prone to tornados or any other storm which is accompanied by high winds, don't just secure patio furniture-- secure anything you can think of which can become a projectile missile--bird feeders, hanging flower baskets, etc. Go into your yard on a breezy day and make a list of anything you see swaying. A tornado can create winds of up to 300 miles an hour--a bird feeder, even a cheap little plastic one, travelling at that speed becomes a funny shaped bullet.
Do not waste time opening windows during a tornado warning. Your house will not explode, as was once widely believed.
Most importantly, have a plan for any emergency you may face: Blizzard, fire, hurricane, tornado, flood. If you don't actually practice a bit, at least write down what you know has to get done. Keep the list in a ziplock bag taped to an emergency-use only flashlight. Keep calm! If you begin freaking out, your kids will follow suit, increasing the danger of the situation.
I have been through two tornados in my 35 years, one major flood, and countless blizzards in which power was lost for more than 24 hours. Remaining calm, being prepared and having a plan, that's what gets you through.