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Stay ready

Calm is a plan, not a hope. Work through what to do before, during and after each kind of severe weather, build a kit, and make a household plan. Your checks are saved as you go.

“A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.”

Proverbs 22:3 · ASV

0%ready: 0 of 156 steps checked across every hazard, your kit and your plan

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Tornado

Before

Learn your area's tornado risk and the warning signs: a rotating funnel, an approaching debris cloud, or a roar like a freight train.
Set up more than one way to get warnings: Wireless Emergency Alerts, a NOAA Weather Radio, and local alert sign-ups. Learn your siren tone.
Choose your shelter: a safe room or storm shelter, a basement, or a small windowless interior room on the lowest floor.
If you live in a mobile home or a home without a basement, pick a nearby sturdy building you can reach quickly.
Run a tornado drill with everyone in the household, including how you will bring pets.
Keep shelter supplies ready: water, non-perishable food, medications, a flashlight and a first aid kit.
On days with a Tornado Watch, review the plan and keep your alerts on.

During

Go to your shelter right away. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado.
Get as low and as far inside as you can, away from windows, doors and outside walls. Avoid large open rooms like gyms.
Cover your head and neck with your arms, and pad yourself with blankets, cushions or a mattress.
Mobile homes, sheds and tents are not safe. Move to a sturdy building if there is time.
In a vehicle, drive to the nearest sturdy shelter if you can. If trapped, stay buckled with your head below the windows and covered, or lie in a spot clearly lower than the road and cover your head.
Never shelter under a highway overpass or bridge.
Keep listening to NOAA Weather Radio or local alerts for updates.

After

Stay alert: more rounds of severe storms are common during outbreaks.
Check in with family by text or social media, and save phone calls for emergencies.
Stay away from downed power lines and report them. Do not enter damaged buildings.
Wear sturdy shoes, long pants, long sleeves and work gloves around debris.
Give first aid only if you are trained, and call 911 for serious injuries.
Photograph damage for insurance, and watch out for repair and insurance scams.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes · https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-prepare · https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-during · https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-after

Severe thunderstorm & lightning

Before

Check the forecast before outdoor plans, and know the difference between a watch and a warning.
Turn on alerts: community notifications, Wireless Emergency Alerts and a NOAA Weather Radio.
Trim or remove trees and branches that could fall on your home.
Consider surge protectors or a lightning protection system for your home.
Pick a safe interior room on the lowest floor, and note sturdy buildings near places you spend time outdoors.
When storms approach, secure loose outdoor items, close windows and doors, and bring valuables inside.

During

When thunder roars, go indoors: a substantial building or a hard-topped metal vehicle with the windows up. No place outside is safe.
Under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, move to your interior safe room away from windows, and bring pets if you can.
During lightning, avoid corded phones, plugged-in electronics and plumbing such as sinks, showers and baths.
Never shelter under a tree. Sheds and open-sided shelters do not protect you.
Do not drive through flooded roads. Turn Around, Don't Drown.
A vehicle is safer than being outside, but drive to a sturdy shelter if there is time.

After

Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside.
Keep watching alerts: more storms and flash flooding can follow.
Stay away from downed power lines and fallen trees, and report them.
Text family and friends to let them know you are safe.
Check for damage in protective clothing, stay out of damaged buildings, and watch out for scams.
If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 and start CPR or use an AED if you are trained.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/thunderstorms-lightning · https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm-prepare · https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm-during · https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm-after · https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-tips · https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-struck

Flood & flash flood

Before

Look up your flood risk at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and remember flooding also happens outside mapped zones.
Buy or renew flood insurance. Homeowners policies do not cover floods, and coverage usually starts about 30 days after purchase.
Turn on alerts, and learn the difference between a Flood Watch, a Flood Warning and a Flash Flood Warning.
Plan and practice routes to higher ground, including from places you often drive.
Keep at least 3 days of food, water and medicine. Store documents in a waterproof container, with password-protected digital copies.
Move valuables to higher floors, and keep drains and gutters clear.

During

Evacuate right away if told to, and never drive around barricades.
Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater: 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot can sweep a vehicle away.
Move to higher ground immediately, including if you are camping in a low area.
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
If your car is trapped in moving water, stay inside. If water rises inside the car, get onto the roof.
If trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but not a closed attic. Go onto the roof only if necessary, signal for help and call 911.
Stay out of rooms where water covers outlets or cords. Leave if you see sparks or hear buzzing or popping.

After

Return home only when officials say it is safe.
Stay out of standing water: it can be contaminated, electrically charged, or hiding debris and washed-out roads.
Do not touch wet electrical equipment. Turn off power at the main breaker only if it is safe to do so.
Find out whether your tap water is safe, and follow any boil-water notices.
Clean up in heavy gloves, boots, protective clothing and a mask for mold. People with asthma, lung disease or weakened immunity should stay out of moldy buildings.
Watch for snakes and other animals that may have come inside.
Run generators only outdoors and away from windows, and photograph damage for your insurer.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/floods · https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-before · https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-during · https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-after · https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown

Hurricane & tropical storm

Before

Find out whether you live in an evacuation zone, and learn your route out.
Write or review your household plan, including anyone who needs extra help, and your pets.
Build a kit and a go-bag with medications, pet supplies, phone chargers and backup batteries.
Review your insurance (flood coverage is separate and has a waiting period), and save digital copies of IDs and policies.
Prepare the home: storm shutters or pre-cut 5/8-inch exterior plywood, clear gutters and drains, and a plan for outdoor furniture.
Have several ways to get alerts (FEMA app, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio), and learn what NHC watches and warnings mean.

During

If officials order an evacuation, leave immediately.
If staying, shelter in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest floor that will not flood, with as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
Stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors.
Do not go outside during the eye. The winds return quickly from the opposite direction.
If flooding traps you, go to the highest level, but not a closed attic.
Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater, and keep listening to official updates.

After

Return home only when officials say it is safe. Avoid driving, flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
Check outside for downed lines, gas leaks and structural damage. Stay out if you smell gas or water surrounds the building.
Never run a generator indoors or in a garage: carbon monoxide is a leading cause of death after storms.
Use flashlights, not candles, and switch the flashlight on before you enter a building.
Stay out of floodwater and away from wet electrical equipment.
Text rather than call, because phone lines are overloaded.
Photograph damage and call your insurer. If a disaster is declared, apply for help at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes · https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep · https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan · https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-action · https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

Winter storm & extreme cold

Before

Winterize your home with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and protect pipes from freezing.
Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors (with battery backup), and keep outside vents clear.
Stock supplies for several days without power: no-cook food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, a battery NOAA Weather Radio and pet supplies.
Pack a car kit (jumper cables, sand, flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, water and snacks), and keep the gas tank full.
Refill heating fuel before it runs low, and make sure any backup heat source is properly ventilated.
If heating costs are a problem, contact LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

During

Stay off the roads if you can. If you must drive, slow down and tell someone your route.
If stranded, stay with the vehicle. Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat, and open a window slightly while it runs to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and tie a bright cloth to the antenna or door.
Limit time outside. Wear layers, cover exposed skin and stay dry.
Know the signs of frostbite (numbness; white, grayish-yellow or waxy skin) and hypothermia (shivering, confusion, slurred speech, drowsiness). Warm the body core first and get medical help.
Avoid overexertion when shoveling or walking in deep snow, because of the risk of heart attack.
Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven. Use generators and grills outdoors only.

After

Check road conditions and allow extra time. Clear all snow from the car, including the exhaust pipe, before driving.
Check for frozen pipes, especially along outside walls, in basements and attics, and under sinks.
Shovel and salt walkways once it is safe.
Check on neighbors, especially older adults and people who live alone.
Watch for flooding from snowmelt, and avoid flooded roads.
Confirm water safety and service restoration with your utilities, and make sure furnace vents are not blocked by drifts.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather · https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-before · https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-during · https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-after · https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-during · https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-after

Extreme heat

Before

Learn the signs of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Find nearby places to cool off: cooling centers, libraries, malls, or ask your local health department.
Do not count on a fan as your main way to cool down; in extreme heat it does not lower body temperature.
Keep heat out with shades or drapes, weather stripping, window reflectors and insulation, and insulate around window AC units.
If cooling costs are a problem, contact LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Plan for a power outage during a heat wave (see the Power outage checklist).

During

Never leave children, adults or pets in a parked car.
Stay in air conditioning. Without it at home, go to a cooling center, and take cool showers or baths.
Drink plenty of water even if you are not thirsty, and limit alcohol and caffeine.
Wear light, loose, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, and stay in the shade.
Move strenuous activity to the coolest part of the day.
Check on older adults, neighbors and anyone living alone. Give pets water and shade, and watch for hot pavement.
Heat stroke is an emergency (body temperature above 103 °F; hot, red, dry skin; rapid pulse; confusion). Call 911, move the person somewhere cool, and apply cold wet cloths or ice packs.

After

Keep drinking fluids, and watch for delayed signs of heat illness.
Keep checking on vulnerable neighbors; heat danger often lasts several days.
If the power went out, throw away food that sat above 40 °F for 2 hours or more.
Look into longer-term fixes (shading, insulation, AC servicing) before the next heat wave.
Write down what worked, such as which cooling center was open and its hours.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/heat · https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat · https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-during · https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness

Power outage

Before

List everything you rely on that needs electricity, and plan batteries and power banks to cover it.
Keep a flashlight for every household member. Avoid candles.
Make a plan with your medical provider for powered medical devices and refrigerated medicines.
Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of your home.
Find out whether your home phone works in an outage and how long its backup lasts.
Stock non-perishable food, water, coolers and a refrigerator/freezer thermometer.

During

Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed: a refrigerator stays cold about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48 hours.
Use generators, camp stoves and charcoal grills only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
Unplug appliances and electronics so a power surge does not damage them when power returns.
Keep the generator dry, connect appliances with heavy-duty extension cords, and let it cool before refueling.
If it is extremely hot or cold, go to a community location that has power.
Check on neighbors who depend on medical equipment.

After

When in doubt, throw it out: discard food that was above 40 °F for 2 hours or more, or that smells, looks or feels unusual.
If the power was out for more than a day, discard refrigerated medicine unless the label says otherwise, and call a pharmacist for a replacement.
Plug appliances back in gradually.
Report downed power lines and stay away from them.
Restock the batteries, water and food you used.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/power-outages · https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather

Build a kit

Water: one gallon per person per day, for several days, for drinking and sanitation
Food: at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food, and a manual can opener
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
A flashlight for each person (no candles)
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Prescription and non-prescription medications, and glasses or contacts
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Whistle to signal for help
Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Local maps
Copies of IDs, insurance and bank records in a waterproof container, plus password-protected digital copies
Cash
A warm blanket or sleeping bag for each person, a change of clothes and sturdy shoes
Pet food, extra water and supplies for your pets
Infant formula, diapers, or other supplies your household needs
A car kit: jumper cables, flashlight, blankets, water and snacks (and sand in winter)

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/kit · https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/survival-kit-supplies.html

Make a plan

Decide how everyone will get alerts and warnings: Wireless Emergency Alerts, a NOAA Weather Radio, and local alert sign-ups.
Agree on where you will shelter for each hazard, such as an interior room on the lowest floor for tornadoes and higher ground for floods.
Learn your evacuation zone and at least two ways out, and where you would go.
Make a communication plan: an out-of-area contact everyone can text, and a place to meet if you are separated.
Account for each person's needs: medications, medical devices, mobility, language, infants, older adults and pets.
Write the plan down and keep copies in your kit and on your phone.
Practice the plan: run a shelter drill and review your routes at least once a year.

Sources: https://www.ready.gov/plan · https://www.ready.gov/people-disabilities · https://www.ready.gov/older-adults · https://www.ready.gov/pets · https://www.ready.gov/evacuation

Get official alerts directly

StormCrownHD is a supplement, never your only source. Keep at least one of these on.

Official preparedness resources

After the storm: recovery

Where to apply for help, find shelter and start rebuilding.

Help lines

Free and available around the clock. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911 first.

Emergency
911
Any life-threatening emergency, including heat stroke and lightning strikes.
Call Emergency
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988
Call, text or chat any time for emotional distress or crisis support.
Call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Website for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Disaster Distress Helpline
1-800-985-5990
Free, confidential crisis counseling for anyone distressed by a disaster. Call or text, 24/7; Spanish available (press 2).
Call Disaster Distress Helpline Text Disaster Distress Helpline Website for Disaster Distress Helpline
211
211
Local help with shelter, food, utilities and recovery services.
Call 211 Website for 211
FEMA Helpline
1-800-621-3362
Questions about a FEMA disaster assistance application.
Call FEMA Helpline Website for FEMA Helpline

Reading the storm

Before, during and after

Tornado

Tornado

Before

During

After

Severe thunderstorm & lightning

Before

During

After

Flood & flash flood

Before

During

After

Hurricane & tropical storm

Before

During

After

Winter storm & extreme cold

Before

During

After

Extreme heat

Before

During

After

Power outage

Before

During

After

Build a kit

Make a plan

Get official alerts directly

Official preparedness resources

After the storm: recovery

Help lines

Before, during and after

Tornado

Tornado

Before

During

After

Severe thunderstorm & lightning

Before

During

After

Flood & flash flood

Before

During

After

Hurricane & tropical storm

Before

During

After

Winter storm & extreme cold

Before

During

After

Extreme heat

Before

During

After

Power outage

Before

During

After

Build a kit

Make a plan

Get official alerts directly

Official preparedness resources

After the storm: recovery

Help lines