Severe Weather Preparedness
Thunderstorm Tips
Before a Thunderstorm
Be Weather-Ready: Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for severe weather. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about severe thunderstorm watches and warnings. Check the Weather-Ready Nation for tips.
Sign Up for Notifications: Know how your community sends warnings. While some communities may have outdoor sirens, most depend on media and smartphones to alert residents to severe storms.
Create a Communications Plan: Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. Pick a safe room in your home such as a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Get more ideas for a plan at Ready.gov/plan.
Practice Your Plan: Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if damaging wind, large hail or lightning strikes are approaching. Make sure all members of your family know to go to your emergency meeting place when severe thunderstorm warnings are issues. Collect your pets if time allows.
Prepare Your Home: Keep trees and branches trimmed near your house. If you have time before severe weather hits, secure loose objects, close windows and doors, and move any valuable objects inside or under a sturdy structure.
Take CPR / First Aid training so you can help if someone is hurt during severe weather.
During a Thunderstorm
Stay Weather Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about severe thunderstorm watches and warnings.
At Your Home: Go to your secure location if you hear a severe thunderstorm warning. Damaging wind, large hail or lightning strikes may be approaching. Take your pets with you if time allows.
At Your Workplace or School: Stay away from windows if you are in a severe thunderstorm warning and damaging wind, large hail or lightning strikes are approaching. Do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums or auditoriums.
Outside: Go inside a sturdy building immediately if severe thunderstorms are approaching. Sheds are not safe. Taking shelter under a tree can be deadly as the tree may fall on you. Standing under a tree also puts you at a greater risk of getting struck by lightning.
In a Vehicle: Being in a vehicle during severe thunderstorms is safer than being outside; however, drive to the closest secure shelter if there is time.
Indoors During a Thunderstorm
Stay away from anything plugged into an outlet: TVs, computers, corded phones, kitchen appliances, etc. Do not attempt to unplug such a device during an active lightning storm. It’s okay to use a remote control or mobile phone.
Stay away from plumbing as electricity can travel along pipes and fittings. Don’t take a shower or run a faucet.
Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
Don’t lie on a concrete floor or lean against a concrete wall, as there are metal bars inside those surfaces.
Bring pets inside. Doghouses and hutches are not adequate protection from lightning, and proximity to metal fences and chains is a risk factor.
Outdoors During a Thunderstorm
Do not be in an open field or on a hilltop or ridge top. Keep moving toward shelter.
Stay away from water and metal objects (fences, cables, railroad tracks), as they are good conductors of electricity.
If you’re in a group, stay 20 feet away from each other as you move toward safety. Though this dispersal increases the chance of somebody being struck, it reduces the chance of multiple injuries.
A metal-roofed vehicle is a relatively safe shelter. Once you’re inside, roll up the windows and do not lean against the doors or inside walls.
Never lie flat on the ground.
After a Thunderstorm
Stay Informed: Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather radio to stay updated about severe thunderstorm watches and warnings. More severe thunderstorms could be headed your way.
Contact Your Family and Loved Ones: Let your family and close friends know that you’re okay so they can help spread the word. Test messages or social media are more reliable forms of communication than phone calls.
Assess the Damage: After you are sure the severe weather threat has ended, check your property for damages. When walking through storm damage, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes. Contact local authorities if you see downed power lines. Stay out of damaged buildings. Be aware of insurance and construction scammers if your property has been damaged.
Help your Neighbor: If you come across injured people and you are properly trained and willing, provide first aid to victims until emergency responders arrive.
Flood Safety Tips
Before a Flood
Sometimes floods develop slowly and forecasters can anticipate where a flood will happen days or weeks before it occurs. Oftentimes flash floods can occur within minutes and sometimes without any sign of rain. Being prepared can save your life and give you peace of mind.
- Create a Communications Plan
- Assemble an Emergency Kit
- Know Your Risk and Consider Flood Insurance
- Sign up for Notifications
- Prepare Your Home
- Prepare Your Family/Pets
- Charge Your Essential Electronics
- Be Prepared to Evacuate
During a Flood
During a flood, water levels and the rate the water is flowing can quickly change. Remain aware and monitor local radio and television outlets. Avoid flood waters at all costs and evacuate immediately when water starts to rise. Don’t wait until it’s too late!
Stay Informed: Listen to radio and television, including NOAA Weather Radio, if possible. Check the Internet and social media for information and updates.
Get to Higher Ground: If you live in a flood prone area or are camping in a low-lying area, get to higher ground immediately.
Obey Evacuation Orders: If told to evacuate, do so immediately, lock your home when you leave. If you have time, disconnect utilities and appliances.
Practice Electrical Safety: Don’t go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged. If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping or popping noises – get out! Stay out of water that may have electricity in it!
Avoid flood waters: Don’t walk through flood waters. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to knock you off your feet. If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible.
Do NOT drive into flooded roadways or around a barricade: Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Water may be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards such as sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, electrical Wires, chemicals, etc. A vehicle caught in swiftly moving water can be swept away in seconds. 12 inches of water can float a car or small SUV. 18 inches of water can carry away large vehicles.
After a Flood
Contact Your Family and Loved Ones: Let them know that you’re safe.
When flood waters recede, the damage left behind can be devastating and present many dangers. Images of flood destruction show destroyed homes and buildings, damaged possessions and decimated roadways. However, what you can’t see can be just as dangerous. Floodwaters often become contaminated with sewage or chemicals. Gas leaks and live power lines can be deadly, but are not obvious at first glance.
Stay informed: Stay tuned to your local news for updated information on road conditions. Ensure water is safe to drink, cook or clean with after a flood. Authorities may advise you to bio water for some time after a flood. Utility companies often have apps to update you on getting services restored.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death after storms/floods when areas are dealing with power outages. Never use a portable generator or barbeque inside your home or garage.
Avoid Disaster Areas: Do not visit disaster areas, unless you are a trained volunteer and have been asked to assist. Your presence may hamper rescue and other emergency operations.
Heed Road Closed and Cautionary Signs: These signs are put in place for your safety. Pay attention to them!
Wait for the “All Clear”: Do not enter a flood damaged home or building until you’re given the “All Clear” by authorities. If you enter a flood damaged building, be extremely careful. Water can cause floors to collapse, ceilings to fall, etc. Make sure the electrical system has been turned off. Have the power company or a qualified electrician fix wires.
Contact your insurance agent to discuss property damage. Homeowner’s insurance does not cover floods. You need to have separate “National Flood Insurance Program” coverage.
For more information about severe weather preparedness and response.