In the 1996 film "Twister," Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton are two storm chasers trying to invent a better warning system for tornadoes, motivated by the trauma for Hunt's character of having lost her parents when a twister struck without warning. The rapid pace at which tornadoes and damaging wind storms can occur makes advance preparation critical for residents in the Midwest, especially those in the area called "Tornado Alley."

Many residents in these areas feel like Hunt's character: unprepared. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) encourages homeowners, renters and business owners to plan in advance where they will take cover and maintain an emergency storm kit, at a minimum.

A recent survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of PCI shows that residents in the Midwest are least likely to feel they are well prepared for natural disasters or severe weather, however. The survey, conducted online within the United States from March 20 to 24, 2015 among 2,021 adults ages 18 and older, found that 56% of Midwesterners say they are not well prepared for the aftermath of natural disasters or severe weather compared to 49 percent of Americans overall.

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Rosalie Donlon

Rosalie Donlon is the editor in chief of ALM's insurance and tax publications, including NU Property & Casualty magazine and NU PropertyCasualty360.com. You can contact her at [email protected].

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