Tag: Severe Weather

With the arrival of Spring and warm weather, comes the blossoming of flowers, leaves growing on the trees, and the potential for severe storms.

During the Spring, we can see a variety of weather hazards including:

• Heavy Rains
• Floods
• Heat
• High Winds
• Lightning
• Rip Currents/Beach Hazards
• Tornadoes
• and more!

It’s important that we understand what to do when severe weather we see during the warmer months of the year happens. Below is a list of a few proper safety protocols to prepare for severe weather.

• Have a written plan for what you will do in an emergency. Don’t forget to include your pets in your emergency planning!
• Share your plan with family, friends, care providers and other in your personal support network.
• If you have an emergency (fire, medical emergency, down electrical wires, hazardous material spill, gas leak etc.) CALL 911
• Severe Weather Warning means severe weather is imminent, occurring, or likely in your area and is a threat to life and property. Everyone in the warning area needs to take immediate action.
  1. Shelter in place- Have a designated safe area in the home that offers the most protection from high winds, falling objects, and away from glass windows.
  2. Evacuation- There may be conditions in which you will decide to evacuate or are ordered to leave; in this case, you need to choose several designated shelters located in different directions from your home that you can go to when these conditions arise.
• Keep a list of family members and emergency contacts along with their contact information; i.e. phone number, text, email address.
• Prepare basic survival kits, one for if you stay where you are and a second kit for if you have to leave. What should you include in your survival kit?
  • Water
  • Food
  • Battery powered radio
  • Flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle
  • Dust mask
  • Moist towelettes
  • Garbage bags
  • Local maps
  • Pet food
  • Medications
  • Cash
• Monitor radio and TV stations located in your immediate area for any updates in weather conditions.
• What are the safety precautions for down electrical wires? STAY AWAY AND DO NOT TOUCH.

• If there is a gas leak in your community, stay indoors (if possible) and block air flow from entering around windows and doors. If you have to evacuate, go upwind from source.
• For flooding conditions stay on high ground, avoid the current, and wait for emergency personnel and equipment to assist moving you.

Department of Homeland Security. (2014). Basic Disaster Supplies Kit. Retrieved March 15, 2016.

Weather-Ready Nation. (n.d.). Spring Has Sprung! Get Ready for Some of America’s Wildest Weather! #SpringSafety. Retrieved March 15, 2016.