Regardless of where you live storms can happen quickly and unexpectedly. So, you might be asking “how do you prepare for severe weather?” While it can be difficult to know exactly what to do when severe weather strikes, you can take safety measures ahead of time to ensure that you, your family, and your home are well-equipped to deal with dangerous weather conditions.

When it comes to storm preparation, it’s better to be over-prepared than underprepared. To help you be better prepared when severe weather strikes, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you keep everyone safe!

Learn About Severe Weather Near You

Familiarize yourself and your family with common severe weather conditions in your area. Is your region prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or extreme thunderstorms? Then, ask yourself questions like these to be sure you make the right preparations:

1. Is your home more susceptible to flooding due to its elevation?
2. What safety procedures are already in place near you and how are warnings issued?
3. What are the evacuation routes, and where should you go to find shelter nearby?
4. Do you have back-up devices for checking weather updates?

Answering these questions before a storm will help you better understand which safety measures to take, where to shelter, and how to help your family prepare for severe conditions. Ultimately, the type of storm coming your way will determine which plan you put into action, but it’s best to follow all these steps when learning how to prepare for severe weather conditions.

Five Severe Weather Tips
Whatever the weather may have in store for you, these five tips can help you prepare for future storms and other emergencies:

1. Back-Up Your Power.
   There’s a lot to think about when severe weather hits, don’t burden yourself with the additional
   worries of a power outage. In the case of complete power loss, a home backup generator will
   ensure that your home appliances keep running and you don’t lose any of the basics like food,
   water, and heat while you shelter in place. Beyond that, a power surge can occur when power is
   restored. A whole-house surge protector could prevent your electronics and appliances from
   being damaged in the process.
2. Create and Practice Safety Plans with Your Family. Explaining what to expect during a storm and assigning roles to each family member will help everyone stay calm and organized. Take some time with your family to discuss severe weather conditions in your area, create a safety plan, and run practice drills. This way, everyone knows what to do or where to go in case of separation.
3. Do a Home Safety Check. Don’t just have a safe room, have a safe home. Consider the weak points of your house and what you can do to better secure them. If you’re expecting high winds, you may want to consider barricading your doors, installing shutters on your windows, or even re-roofing. Inspect the area outside your home as well for any potential hazards like large tree branches that you can trim back ahead of time. Checking and stabilizing your house can be tasked to family members when making your safety plan.
4. Stock Up and Create a Kit. It can be difficult to remember everything you may need during a crisis. Instead of scrambling together items at the last minute, be ready with a stocked supply kit of food, water, first aid items, medications, flashlights, batteries, tools, maps, blankets, emergency contacts, and a whistle for aid. And if you can, keep important documents in a dry, secure spot.
5. Know How to Recover from Damage. Seemingly minor damage can lead to bigger issues later. An electrical safety inspection of your home after a severe weather event can help ease your mind about any unseen issues. If the damage is more extensive, take precautions and avoid any damaged areas outside or inside your home. Help your neighbors if you can, and always ask a professional before trying to fix or operate any storm-damaged electrical devices.