Severe weather doesn’t give much warning, and when it strikes, the difference between minor inconvenience and major disaster often comes down to preparation. Whether you face hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, wildfires, or flooding, taking proactive steps to protect your home and family can prevent damage, save money, and potentially save lives.

Know Your Risks

Different regions face different threats. Understanding what severe weather is most likely in your area allows you to prioritize your preparation efforts.

Identify your local hazards:

• Coastal areas: hurricanes, flooding, storm surge
• Midwest and Southeast: tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding
• Northern regions: winter storms, ice, extreme cold
• Western states: wildfires, earthquakes, drought
• Flood-prone areas: flash flooding, river flooding
• All regions can experience severe thunderstorms, lightning, and high winds

Check FEMA’s risk map for your address at FEMA.gov to see specific threats in your area, and sign up for local emergency alerts through your county or municipality.

Create an Emergency Plan

Before severe weather threatens, establish a family emergency plan so everyone knows what to do.

Essential planning elements:

• Identify a safe room in your home for each type of severe weather
• Establish communication methods if family members are separated
• Designate an out-of-state contact person everyone can check in with
• Plan evacuation routes and identify where you’ll go if you need to leave
• Ensure all family members know how to shut off utilities (gas, water, electricity)
• Make plans for pets—many shelters don’t accept animals
• Keep important documents in a waterproof, fireproof safe or grab-and-go container
• Practice your plan, especially with children

Build an Emergency Kit

A well-stocked emergency kit ensures you can shelter safely at home for at least 72 hours without power or running water.

Basic emergency supplies:

• Water: one gallon per person per day for at least three days
• Non-perishable food for three days minimum
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and NOAA Weather Radio
• Flashlights and extra batteries (avoid candles due to fire risk)
• First aid kit and any necessary medications
• Prescription eyeglasses and hearing aid batteries
• Multi-tool or basic tool kit
• Manual can opener
• Cell phone with chargers and backup battery pack
• Cash in small bills
• Local maps
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust masks, plastic sheeting, and duct tape for sheltering in place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for sanitation

Additional items for specific needs:

• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and supplies
• Important family documents in a waterproof container
• Sleeping bags or warm blankets
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Complete change of clothing and sturdy shoes

Store your kit in an easily accessible location and check it twice a year to replace expired items and update supplies.

Hurricane Preparation

If you live in hurricane-prone areas, preparation begins well before hurricane season.

Before hurricane season (June-November):

• Trim trees and shrubs to reduce wind-thrown debris
• Inspect and repair your roof, windows, and doors
• Clean gutters and downspouts
• Secure or store outdoor furniture, decorations, and equipment
• Consider installing hurricane shutters or having plywood pre-cut for windows
• Review your insurance coverage and document your possessions
• Fill prescriptions early

When a hurricane is forecast:

• Fill bathtubs and containers with water for washing and flushing
• Fill your vehicle’s gas tank
• Charge all electronic devices
• Bring outdoor items inside
• Close storm shutters or board up windows
• Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings
• If evacuating, turn off utilities and lock your home
• Know your evacuation zone and route

After the storm:

• Stay inside until authorities declare it’s safe
• Avoid standing water—it may be electrically charged or contaminated
• Document damage with photos for insurance
• Be cautious of structural damage, gas leaks, and fallen power lines

Tornado Preparedness

Tornadoes can form quickly, giving you only minutes to seek shelter.

Before tornado season:

• Identify your safe space: basement, interior room on the lowest floor, or an interior hallway
• Your safe space should have no windows and preferably be under a sturdy structure
• Keep sturdy shoes and a helmet in your safe space
• Install a battery backup for your sump pump if you have a basement
• Consider a safe room or underground shelter for maximum protection

When a tornado warning is issued:

• Go to your safe space immediately
• Get under sturdy furniture if possible
• Cover yourself with blankets, sleeping bags, or mattress to protect from debris
• If in a mobile home, evacuate to a sturdy building or storm shelter
• If caught outside or in a vehicle, lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area

What NOT to do:

• Don’t open windows (this doesn’t reduce damage and wastes precious seconds)
• Don’t try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle
• Don’t shelter under highway overpasses

Winter Storm Preparation

Winter weather can knock out power and make travel impossible for days.

Before winter:

• Insulate pipes to prevent freezing
• Have heating system serviced annually
• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic
• Clean gutters to prevent ice dams
• Stock up on sand or salt for walkways
• Service your snow blower or shovel

When a winter storm is forecast:

• Stock up on food and supplies before the storm
• Charge devices and have backup power sources ready
• Bring pets inside
• Set faucets to a slow drip if temperatures will drop below freezing
• Know how to shut off water in case pipes burst
• Never use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors (carbon monoxide danger)

During the storm:

• Stay indoors if possible
• Dress in layers if power goes out
• Close off unneeded rooms to conserve heat
• Cover windows at night for insulation
• Eat and drink regularly to maintain body temperature

Preventing frozen pipes:

• Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air circulation
• Keep thermostat consistent day and night
• If pipes freeze, never use a torch to thaw them—use a hair dryer or warm towels

Wildfire Preparedness

If you live in wildfire-prone areas, creating defensible space around your home is critical.

Create defensible space:

• Clear dead vegetation within 30 feet of your home
• Trim tree branches at least 10 feet from your roof
• Remove leaves and debris from gutters and roof
• Use fire-resistant landscaping materials
• Stack firewood at least 30 feet from structures
• Create breaks in vegetation by mowing grass and spacing out plantings

Home hardening:

• Install fire-resistant roofing materials
• Use tempered glass for windows
• Screen vents to prevent ember intrusion
• Maintain an ember-resistant zone within five feet of your home

When wildfire threatens:

• Close all windows and doors
• Turn on lights to increase home visibility in smoke
• Move flammable furniture to the center of rooms away from windows
• Close all interior doors
• Fill sinks and bathtubs with water
• Leave exterior lights on
• Evacuate early when ordered—don’t wait

Flood Preparation

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States.

Long-term flood protection:

• Know your flood risk and consider flood insurance (regular homeowners insurance doesn’t cover floods)
• Install sump pumps with battery backup
• Seal basement walls
• Grade your property so water flows away from your foundation
• Install check valves in plumbing to prevent sewage backup
• Elevate major appliances and utilities

When flooding threatens:

• Move valuable items to higher floors
• Fill bathtubs with clean water before the water supply becomes contaminated
• Turn off utilities if instructed or if flooding is imminent
• Never attempt to walk or drive through floodwater—just six inches can knock you down, and two feet can sweep away vehicles

Home Inventory and Insurance

Documentation is crucial for insurance claims after severe weather damage.

Create a home inventory:

• Photograph or video every room in your home
• Document valuable items, including serial numbers
• Store receipts for major purchases
• Keep copies of your inventory off-site or in the cloud
• Update your inventory annually

Review your insurance:

• Ensure you have adequate coverage for rebuilding at current construction costs
• Understand what is and isn’t covered (flooding and earthquakes typically require separate policies)
• Know your deductibles
• Consider replacement cost coverage vs. actual cash value

After the Storm

Once severe weather passes, returning home requires caution.

Safety first:

• Don’t return until authorities say it’s safe
• Document all damage before cleaning up
• Watch for structural damage, gas leaks, and electrical hazards
• Wear protective gear when cleaning up
• Throw away food that may have spoiled
• Contact your insurance company promptly

Regular Maintenance as Prevention

Many severe weather problems can be minimized with regular home maintenance.

Annual maintenance checklist:

• Inspect and maintain your roof
• Clean gutters and downspouts
• Check and seal windows and doors
• Trim trees away from your home
• Test sump pumps
• Inspect foundation for cracks
• Service heating and cooling systems
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Community Resources

Stay connected with local resources that provide weather alerts and assistance.

Important contacts to save:

• Local emergency management agency
• Non-emergency police line
• Utility companies
• Insurance agent
• Local Red Cross chapter
• Poison control: 1-800-222-1222

The Best Time to Prepare is Now

Severe weather preparation isn’t something you can do when the storm is approaching. The time to prepare is now, before you need it. Start with the basics—emergency kit, safe space identification, and an emergency plan. Then build from there with home improvements and supplies specific to your region’s risks.

Remember, preparation isn’t about living in fear—it’s about being ready so you can face severe weather with confidence, knowing you’ve done everything possible to protect your home and family. A few hours of preparation can make all the difference when severe weather strikes.