How to Prepare for Severe Weather

Most people don't think about severe weather until it's already happening. By then, the store shelves are empty, the gas stations have lines around the block, and the window to prepare has closed. The goal isn't to live in fear of storms — it's to make decisions once so you never have to scramble again.

Know Your Regional Threats

Not every threat applies to every region. If you're in the Gulf Coast corridor, hurricanes are your primary concern. Midwest residents deal with tornadoes and ice storms. The Southwest faces extreme heat and flash flooding. The Northeast gets nor'easters that can knock out power for days. Know what's realistic for where you live and prepare for that specifically — not everything at once.

The 72-Hour Baseline

FEMA recommends 72 hours of self-sufficiency as a minimum. That means water, food, medication, and warmth for three days without outside help. Most families aren't even close. Start there before anything else.

Water is the most critical and most overlooked. One gallon per person per day is the standard. For a family of four, that's 12 gallons minimum. Store it in food-grade containers away from direct sunlight. Rotate every six months.

Power Outages During Storms

Severe weather and power outages go hand in hand. A quality flashlight, a hand-crank or battery radio for NOAA weather alerts, and a portable battery bank for phones covers most situations. Don't rely on candles as your primary light source — they're a fire risk when you're already dealing with a crisis.

Before the Storm Hits

When a storm watch is issued, fill your bathtub with water. It won't be drinking water but it can flush toilets if the municipal system goes down. Charge all devices. Fill your gas tank. Pull cash from the ATM. Card readers go down when power goes out.

Shelter in Place vs. Evacuation

Have a decision made before you need to make it. Know your evacuation route, know where you're going, and know at what point you leave. For hurricanes, that decision point is typically a Category 3 or higher making direct landfall within 50 miles. For tornadoes, you shelter — you don't outrun them. For flooding, you move early or you risk being trapped.

Preparation isn't complicated. It's just decisions made in advance so you're not making them under pressure.