Storm and freeze readiness checklist

Identify your shelter now: a FEMA/ICC-500 safe room or storm shelter is best; otherwise use a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest floor.

Why it matters: Ready.gov ranks tornado shelter options for tornadoes and high wind.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: FEMA Ready.gov - Tornadoes

Why it matters: EAS and NOAA Weather Radio deliver tornado and severe warnings when seconds count.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: FEMA Ready.gov - Tornadoes

Secure or bring in outdoor furniture, trampolines, and loose items before the storm.

Why it matters: Straight-line and tornadic winds can turn loose objects into missiles.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: FEMA Ready.gov - Tornadoes

Trim dead or overhanging tree limbs near the house and power lines.

Why it matters: Weak limbs fail in high wind and can damage roofs and lines.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: FEMA Ready.gov - Tornadoes

Find a tree service Get quotes Related guide

Clear gutters and check that the roof is sound before storm season.

Why it matters: A compromised roof leaks fast under wind-driven rain.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: FEMA Ready.gov - Tornadoes

Find a roofer Get quotes

Build or refresh an emergency kit for several days.

Why it matters: Severe outbreaks can cut power and access.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: FEMA Ready.gov - Build A Kit

When you hear thunder, go indoors and stay there until 30 minutes after the last clap; stay off corded phones and away from plumbing.

Life-safety - follow the authority

Why it matters: If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance; lightning can travel through wiring and plumbing.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: NWS - Lightning Safety

Under a tornado warning, get to your shelter right away: lowest floor, interior, away from windows.

Life-safety - follow the authority

Why it matters: Ready.gov says to go immediately to a safe location under a tornado warning.
Cited source: Public-agency guidance: FEMA Ready.gov - Tornadoes

How we choose these steps

The registry uses only authority-backed steps from NWS/NOAA, FEMA Ready.gov, CDC, USFA, the American Red Cross, and the NOAA hurricane-shutter page. Life-safety items render as authority-first guidance and do not show quote or contractor CTAs. The watch/warning framing links to NWS guidance.

Frequently asked

Where do these storm-prep steps come from?

Every checklist step is backed by a named authority: NWS/NOAA, FEMA Ready.gov, CDC, USFA, or the American Red Cross. The source link appears on the step itself.

What is the difference between a watch and a warning?

NWS watch/warning guidance frames a watch as the window to prepare and a warning as the time to act now. On this page, warnings mean prioritizing life-safety steps and authority links.

Why do some life-safety steps not link to a contractor?

Generator carbon monoxide, evacuation, tornado shelter, lightning, floodwater, hot-car, and space-heater instructions are not lead funnels. They link directly to the authority and suppress pro CTAs.

Does this page use live weather data?

No. The checklist is computed in your browser from a cited registry. Future NWS banners can deep-link to a threat with a URL parameter, but this page does not fetch weather data.