Preparation and response steps can save lives in any storm. Below are general guidelines:
Before the Storm
Make an Emergency Plan: Know where you’ll shelter and how you’ll communicate. Identify a safe room (basement or small interior room on the lowest floor). Establish a family meeting spot. Plan for pets, children, and neighbors. Review evacuation routes if you live in a hurricane surge zone or flood-prone area. (NOAA recommends writing down a family emergency plan and keeping it with your kit.)
Build an Emergency Kit: Have at least 72 hours of supplies: water (1 gallon/person/day), nonperishable food, medications, flashlight and batteries, NOAA Weather Radio, first aid kit, spare phone chargers/banks, and a portable radio. Include sturdy shoes, hard hats or helmets (for tornado flying debris), and extra cash (ATMs may not work). “Put together a basic emergency kit” is official advice. Remember to include enough fuel for generators or vehicles.
Secure Your Home: For hurricanes/typhoons, cover windows with storm shutters or plywood. Bring outdoor furniture/garbage cans indoors. Trim loose tree branches that could fall on lines. Anchor lawn items. Check sump pumps in flood areas. Inspect your roof and make repairs if possible.
Know the Alerts and Insurance: Make sure you can receive NOAA Weather Radio or emergency alerts on your phone. Understand what watches/warnings mean. Review insurance policies for wind/flood coverage. FEMA’s checklist urges: “Review your insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage”. Photo-document valuables and property for claims.
During the Storm
If a Tornado or tornado warning: Immediately “Get In, Get Down, Cover Up.” Move to your safe room, basement or an interior small room away from windows. Crouch under sturdy furniture (like a heavy table) and cover your head. Avoid vehicles; being indoors in a well-built structure is safer. Monitor NOAA radio or weather apps. Do not try to outrun a tornado in traffic.
If a Hurricane/Typhoon watch is in effect: Keep listening to updates. Finish final preparations: fill your car’s gas tank, charge devices, secure loose items. Review your evacuation plan in case it escalates. People in low-lying/coastal areas should plan to leave if necessary.
If a Hurricane/Typhoon warning is issued: Evacuate if told by authorities (especially if you’re in a surge/flood zone). Otherwise, take refuge in your “safe interior” room on the lowest level, away from windows. Have flashlights handy. Keep your emergency kit nearby. Expect power loss; unplug appliances to protect them. If you live on high ground but far from the storm surge zone, stay put. Remain sheltered until officials say it’s over. (If the eye passes over, remember the lull is temporary – the backside winds will quickly resume from the opposite direction.)
After the Storm
Stay Tuned and Patient: Even if the weather seems clear, continue listening to NOAA Weather Radio or local media for official “all clear” and safety instructions. Do not return home until local officials declare it safe (if evacuated). When electricity is out, use battery-powered radios or phones to receive updates.
Check for Hazards: Before moving, look out for downed power lines, broken gas lines, flooding, or unstable structures. Do not touch fallen lines – assume they’re live. If you smell gas or hear hissing, shut off the main gas valve and leave the building; call the gas company. Only return to damaged buildings if local authorities have inspected them. Watch out for debris on roads and weakened roads or bridges; avoid flooded areas entirely.
Generator Safety: If using a portable generator, never run it indoors or in an attached garage. CO poisoning is a major killer post-storm. Place generators well outside, away from open windows. Flashlights only: Use battery-powered lights, not candles or open flames, inside homes. A single spark from a flashlight could ignite leaking gas in a damaged home.
Check on Others: Check neighbors for injuries, especially the elderly or disabled. Keep an eye on vulnerable pets and livestock. Listen for evacuation orders for secondary emergencies (e.g., dam releases).
Home Safety: When home again, walk around carefully. Clean up debris methodically. Document damage (photos/videos) for insurance. If power is still out, use generators or battery packs safely, and consider perishable food spoilage (discard if uncertain).
Following these steps before, during, and after can dramatically reduce risks. Preparedness guides emphasize that “it only takes one storm…to cause a disaster”, so early action is vital. Our related articles on “Watch vs Warning” and “Seasonal Timing” provide additional context on recognizing alerts and anticipating storm seasons.
Power Outage Risks from Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Typhoons: Why and How to Prepare
Tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons frequently knock out power – often for days or longer. Major storms lead to widespread outages because they damage the electric grid’s infrastructure. According to an analysis of 2000–2021 data, 58% of major U.S. power outages were caused by severe storms (high winds, rain, etc.), and about 15% by tropical storms/hurricanes. These storms can flatten transmission towers, snap distribution poles, and flood substations. For example, Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Rita (2005) left millions of Gulf Coast residents powerless for weeks.
Specifically, hurricanes and typhoons are notorious for long outages. The Union of Concerned Scientists notes that “rain-heavy Gulf Coast hurricanes… bring down utility poles and flood substations. These expansive extreme weather events can leave residents…without power for days and even weeks.”. Consider that storm surge can submerge power equipment, and sustained tropical-force winds can erode overhead lines. Tornadoes, while more localized, can still cut power to entire towns if an EF3+ twister hits a substation or pole farm. Even straight-line thunderstorm winds (derechos) cause outages.
Why outages last so long: Restoration is complicated by storm damage. Crews must wait until winds die down to safely work. Flooded or debris-blocked roads delay them. If entire transmission lines are down, power may need rerouting. Remote rural areas often wait longer (after 2020’s Louisiana storms, many remained dark for weeks). In short, high-impact storms can cripple the grid.
Preparing for outages: Households should act as if prolonged outages are likely. Energy-savvy preppers often do the following:
1. Backup Power: Install or obtain a backup generator (with sufficient fuel). Portable generators are common; however, heed safety: never run them indoors or in enclosed spaces. Keep generators outdoors and use carbon-monoxide detectors. In hurricane-prone areas, some now install whole-home standby generators or solar+battery systems to ride out grid failures. If using a generator, stock gasoline (or propane) safely in advance, as storm demand often causes shortages.
2. Power Banks & Batteries: Charge power banks and phone batteries before storms. Have spare batteries for flashlights and radios. Store a set of battery-powered lanterns or LED lights. Buy extra batteries well before the season; store in a dry place.
3. Fuel Tanks: Keep vehicles’ gas tanks at least half full once a storm is imminent (gas pumps require electricity). If you have an emergency generator, fill its fuel tank too (and rotate fuel every 1–2 years).
4. Food and Water: Have water jugs on hand (fill bathtubs/jugs if flood risk). Keep a cooler and ice packs ready to preserve perishables. Freeze water bottles in advance (they also help in cooler after losing power). Prepare shelf-stable food.
5. Appliance Precautions: During an outage, turn off or unplug sensitive electronics to prevent damage from a power surge when electricity returns. Set refrigerators/freezers to coldest setting prior to outage and avoid opening them frequently.
6. Critical Medications/Needs: Ensure you have extra medicine (especially if stored refrigerated, like insulin, within allowed limits) and any special needs (wheelchairs, hospital equipment) covered for multi-day outages.
Safety tips: During outages, use only battery or solar lighting – no candles (they risk fire). Use generators for essential loads only. Keep a NOAA Weather Radio on hand (battery/back-up) to track restoration efforts and emergency updates. FEMA and CDC advise: have a plan for hot/cold weather conditions without power (e.g., access to cooled shelters in heat waves).
Why this matters for disasters: Since power loss is often the longest-lasting impact of these storms, it should be a central part of planning. Indeed, Climate Central’s analysis showed that Texas and Michigan saw hundreds of outages from storms between 2000–2021, illustrating that even large northern states are vulnerable when storms hit. By preparing generators, supplies, and safety measures now, families can endure outages without succumbing to hazards.
In summary, always treat severe storm warnings as also potential blackout warnings. Fill up fuel tanks and portable batteries early, protect and unplug electronics, and have light and heat sources ready. Follow official advice (turn off main breakers if flooding risks exist) and wait for utilities to restore service. With these steps, even a lengthy outage can be weathered safely.
