Last Updated: March 21, 2025
It might feel like we’ve only just finished our winter weather (good riddance!), but that means it’s time to start preparing for spring severe weather, like tornadoes and flash flooding.
RHHD’s Emergency Preparedness & Response Coordinator, Ed Porner, says that our spring preparations require a little more planning ahead than our winter ones: “Unlike snowstorms, tornadoes and floods – can pop up with only hours of warning,” he explains. “While the sky is still blue, it’s a great time to ensure you have an emergency kit, have practiced emergency procedures with your family, and have identified shelter locations in the buildings where you spend the most time.”
Keep reading for more preparedness tips from RHHD, and visit ready.gov for even more severe weather advice!
Preparing for severe weather:
- Identify safe shelters where you spend the most time. At your home, office, or school, find a small room or hallway with no windows, in a basement or first floor. Once you’ve identified your shelter, make sure you communicate that plan with family members or coworkers, so everyone knows where to go when a tornado warning sounds.
- Choose your reliable news source and stay up to date on the weather.
- Register for an in-person or online SKYWARN class to learn how to spot and report dangerous storm systems.
Stay prepared for any emergency situation:
- Store important family documents, such as copies of insurance policies; identification documents; and bank account records, in a waterproof, portable container or make sure they are saved electronically.
- Keep medications in a central location for easy evacuation if needed.
- Prepare a “go-bag” with clothes, toys and toiletries for five days.
- Know, and practice, your safe spaces and exits.
- Identify friends, neighbors, and relatives who might need extra help during an emergency; generate a phone tree or other contact strategy for checking in on them.
- Choose a central spot to reunite with your family if you get separated.
- Update your insurance yearly and consider flood insurance. Most insurance companies do NOT pay for flooding damage through a standard homeowner’s policy.
These are a lot of tasks! As you’re planning for spring cleaning or enjoying a spring break, try choosing one or two steps a week to get you started. With a little planning, we can take care of ourselves and each other even during extreme weather!