Storm Preparation: Tornadoes, Rain Storms, Hurricanes and Blizzards

Have a family disaster plan for types of emergencies most likely to happen to you. The first thing you should do is prepare a disaster supply kit. Teach your children to call for help next door or on the telephone and help them to memorize important information such as family name, address and phone numbers. Stay informed of weather and road conditions through local news and react quickly to weather warnings. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately and take your disaster supply kit with you!

Prepare your home and check the roof, chimney walls and the foundation for potential clogged gutters, or loose shingles! Trim trees of dead or threatening branches. Put loose chairs or items in the shed or garage. Keep a ladder in garage. Fill bathtubs and the sinks full with water in case of water outages. Fill bottles and pots with water. If the power goes out, turn off the stove and major appliances to avoid a surge or fire when the power is restored.

Have flood insurance if you live near lakes and rivers. If you live in a mobile or manufactured home, have a safe shelter that you can get to quickly in case of hurricanes and floods. Some weather stations will send you text alerts or phone calls in case of severe weather. If you are in a bad weather prone area, sign up for the special weather alerts. Keep the radio on also for alerts. Prepare for plan for pets too. Make sure pets have current identification tag with phone number or address.

Use grills outside for cooking and do not use outdoor grills for heating the home or carbon monoxide poisoning could occur. Power generators are especially helpful in power outages from hurricanes or blizzards. When in use, keep the generator outside or in a dry well-ventilated area to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and electric shock. Make sure to have plenty fuel stored and away from children. If you connect your appliances to the generator, use the appropriate-sized extension cord. Never connect to a wall outlet ("backfeed" can occur putting you and workers repairing lines at risk of electrocution). Consult an electrician ahead of time about proper connection to ensure safety of generator.