Benjamin Franklin once said "By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail". If you wait to prepare until severe weather, or another natural disaster, occurs it may be too late. There are four important steps you need to remember when preparing for severe weather. They are: Plan, Practice, Monitor, Act.
Plan:
Knowing where to find shelter during severe weather, where to meet up with family or friends and how to communicate with each other are key in severe weather preparedness. Whether it be at home, work, school, church or at an outdoor function. If you know you will be away from home at a sporting event, or enjoying a summer afternoon on a friend's boat, make sure you're also informed of where the severe weather safe places are, and how to get to them.
Make sure you're able to gather weather information quickly, and have multiple ways to receive that information. That may be through your cell phone, local media or the National Weather Service. It's also important to know the difference between a 'Watch' and 'Warning'. A 'Watch' means conditions in the atmosphere are favorable for severe weather and you should continue to monitor the weather throughout the day. A 'warning' means severe weather is occurring or about to occur shortly, and you should seek shelter immediately until the warning is over and the storm has passed.
Practice:
Once your plan is in place, it's time to practice it. You've designated where the safest place in your home, office or school is located - now you need to practice getting there. Holding monthly or yearly practice drills, making sure everyone knows where the safe place is located, how to get in touch with others and where to meet up once the storm has passed. During natural disasters it's often times better to text someone, rather than call.
Monitor:
Whenever I give big weather talks to groups or clubs that hold outdoor events, I always stress the importance of having someone who is able to monitor the weather. This person is your 'weather watcher', so to speak. Knowing what the weather will be and monitoring the weather is extremely important not only for people at home, but for those who may be out at big outdoor events, concerts, recreational boating events, etc. Having someone monitor the weather, and then relay back to those who are in charge of making decisions is very important in preventing severe weather tragedies. Especially with outdoor events. Be sure to have multiple ways to receive weather information - whether it be your phone, weather radio, TV, radio, etc. Ideally a 'weather watcher' will be someone who is in charge of activating the severe weather plan, and who can make decisions on where people need to go for safety.
But it's also important to remember that once given that information, action needs to be taken. There is only so much a Meteorologist can inform you on - storm warning, direction, areas impacted and threats. It's up to YOU to take that information and ACT on it!
ACT:
'Get in, get down and cover up'. That's the advice from the National Weather Service. When a warning is issued, whether it be tornado or severe thunderstorm, seek shelter immediately. Move away from windows, get into the lowest level of your home or office (or designated safe place area) and protect yourself from possible falling debris.
While not all severe weather fatalities can be prevented, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself. Staying aware of the weather around you will keep you from saying 'the storm came out of nowhere'.
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