Severe Weather Emergency Response

Homeowner Summary

Severe weather kills more people in the United States than all other natural hazards combined. Tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning, hail, and ice storms each present distinct threats that require different responses. The common thread is preparation: by the time severe weather arrives, your planning window has closed. Knowing where to shelter during a tornado, when to evacuate for a hurricane, how to protect your home before a storm, and what to do when the power goes out are all skills that must be learned before they are needed.

The most important factor in surviving severe weather is receiving warnings early and acting immediately. Modern weather forecasting provides hours to days of advance warning for hurricanes and ice storms, but tornado warnings may come with only 10-15 minutes of lead time. Every household should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts: NOAA Weather Radio (battery-powered), smartphone alerts (Wireless Emergency Alerts are automatic on all modern phones), and a weather app with push notifications enabled.

Property damage from severe weather is inevitable over a long enough timeline. Every home will eventually face significant wind, hail, or ice damage. Preparation — reinforcing vulnerable areas, maintaining trees, documenting your home's condition, and having adequate insurance — determines whether a severe weather event is a setback or a catastrophe.

IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ACTIONS

Tornado

A tornado can develop in minutes with little visible warning. When a tornado WARNING is issued (meaning a tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar):

1. Go to your shelter immediately. Do NOT wait to see the tornado — by the time you see it, you may have seconds, not minutes
2. Best shelter: Interior room on the lowest floor, as far from exterior walls and windows as possible. Best choices (in order): storm cellar/basement, interior closet on ground floor, interior bathroom on ground floor (bathtub provides additional protection — get in and cover yourself with a mattress or heavy blankets)
3. Stay away from windows. Flying glass is a leading cause of tornado injuries
4. Get under sturdy furniture (heavy table, workbench) and cover your head and neck with your arms, pillows, or a mattress
5. If in a mobile home: GET OUT and go to a nearby sturdy building or lie flat in a ditch/low area. Mobile homes are death traps in tornadoes — even "tie-down" systems cannot withstand tornado-force winds
6. If in a car: Do NOT try to outrun a tornado (they can change direction and speed unpredictably). Pull over, keep your seatbelt on, duck below the windows, and cover your head. If you can safely reach a sturdy building, do so. NEVER shelter under an overpass (wind accelerates through the opening)
7. If caught outside: Lie flat in the lowest spot available (ditch, depression). Cover your head and neck with your arms. Stay away from trees, cars, and buildings

Tornado Watch vs Warning:

• Watch: Conditions are favorable for tornadoes. Prepare, stay alert, and monitor weather
• Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY

Hurricane

Hurricanes provide days of advance warning. Preparation is everything.

Before the Storm (24-48 hours before landfall):

1. Follow evacuation orders. If authorities order evacuation, leave immediately. Do NOT stay to "ride it out" in evacuation zones — storm surge kills more people than wind
2. Board up windows with plywood (minimum 5/8" CDX plywood, pre-cut to fit). Hurricane shutters are better. Tape does NOT work and creates larger, more dangerous glass shards
3. Fill bathtubs with water for flushing toilets and cleaning (municipal water may be shut off)
4. Fill vehicles with gas — gas stations will lose power and close
5. Gather supplies: 3 days minimum of water (1 gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, NOAA weather radio, cash (ATMs will be down), important documents in waterproof container
6. Secure outdoor items: Bring in patio furniture, grills, planters, decorations — anything the wind can turn into a projectile
7. Set refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings — food will stay cold longer when power goes out (a full freezer stays frozen 48 hours, half-full freezer 24 hours)
8. Charge all devices: phones, tablets, battery packs

During the Storm (if sheltering in place):

1. Stay in an interior room away from windows and exterior walls
2. If you lose your roof or walls are breached: Take shelter under a sturdy table or in a closet. DO NOT go outside during the storm
3. Do NOT go outside during the eye of the storm — the calm is temporary, and the back side of the hurricane can arrive suddenly with winds from the opposite direction
4. Monitor NOAA weather radio for updates and all-clear

After the Storm:

1. Continue monitoring for flooding (storm surge and rain flooding often peak AFTER the storm passes)
2. Do NOT touch downed power lines (see emergencies/electrical-emergency.md)
3. Avoid floodwater (contamination risk — see emergencies/flooding.md)
4. Document all damage with photos and video before making repairs — contact your insurance company
5. Use generators ONLY outdoors, 20+ feet from windows/doors (see CO safety below)

Lightning

Lightning kills approximately 20 Americans and injures hundreds more each year. Most victims are struck BEFORE or AFTER the storm, not during the heaviest rain.

1. When thunder roars, go indoors. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance. Seek shelter in a substantial building (not a shed, carport, or open structure) or a hard-topped vehicle
2. The 30-30 Rule: If the time between lightning flash and thunder is less than 30 seconds, seek shelter. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside
3. Once inside:
   • Avoid plumbing — do NOT shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash hands during a thunderstorm (plumbing conducts electricity)
   • Avoid electrical equipment — do NOT use corded phones, computers plugged into the wall, or other plugged-in electronics
   • Stay away from windows and doors
   • Surge protectors protect equipment but NOT people — unplug sensitive electronics during severe storms
4. If someone is struck by lightning: Call 911 immediately. Lightning victims do NOT carry an electrical charge — it is safe to touch them. Begin CPR if they are not breathing and have no pulse. Lightning strike survival rate is 90% with prompt medical attention

Hail

1. Get inside immediately when hail begins. Even small hail can cause injury, and hailstones can exceed baseball size
2. If you can safely bring vehicles into the garage before hail arrives, do so. Hail is the #1 cause of auto insurance claims. If caught outside, pull under an overpass, gas station canopy, or any cover
3. Stay away from windows and skylights during large hail — hailstones can break through glass
4. Cover windows with heavy blankets or mattresses if large hail is breaking glass
5. After the storm: Document all damage (roof, siding, windows, vehicles, outdoor equipment) with photos before any cleanup. Contact your insurance company promptly — hail damage claims are time-sensitive
6. Roof inspection: Have a qualified roofer inspect the roof within days. Hail damage to shingles may not leak immediately but shortens roof lifespan dramatically. Do NOT climb on the roof yourself

Ice Storm

Ice storms are deceptively dangerous. A thin glaze of ice causes more damage and disruption than most other weather events.

1. Stay home if possible. Ice-covered roads are extremely dangerous — even 4WD/AWD vehicles cannot maintain traction on ice. If you must drive, reduce speed dramatically and increase following distance to 10x normal
2. Protect pipes from freezing (ice storms often bring extended power outages):
   • Drip all faucets (both hot and cold)
   • Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls
   • Keep the home at 55F (13C) minimum if heat is available
   • If power is out and heat is lost: see emergencies/hvac-emergency.md for freeze prevention
3. Generator safety — THIS IS CRITICAL: Ice storms cause extended power outages (days to weeks). Generator use spikes, and so do CO deaths
   • NEVER run a generator indoors, in a garage, in a carport, or in any enclosed/semi-enclosed space
   • Place generator at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent with exhaust pointed away from the house
   • Running a generator in an attached garage — even with the door open — can produce lethal CO levels inside the home within minutes
   • See emergencies/carbon-monoxide-emergency.md
4. Watch for falling branches and power lines. Ice-laden trees drop limbs without warning. Stay away from trees during and after ice storms. If a power line falls on your car: STAY IN THE CAR and call 911
5. After the storm: Inspect roof, gutters, and trees for damage. Ice dams can form on roofs, causing interior water damage. Do NOT climb on an icy roof — wait for the ice to melt or hire a professional

What NOT to Do

• NEVER ignore evacuation orders
• NEVER try to outrun a tornado in a car
• NEVER shelter under a highway overpass during a tornado (wind accelerates through the gap)
• NEVER go outside during the eye of a hurricane
• NEVER touch downed power lines or anything in contact with them
• NEVER drive through floodwater (see emergencies/flooding.md)
• NEVER run a generator indoors or in a garage — CO kills
• NEVER use candles during power outages if possible (fire risk — use flashlights and battery lanterns)
• NEVER use a charcoal/gas grill indoors for cooking or heating during an outage
• NEVER climb on your roof during or immediately after a storm
• NEVER tape windows before a hurricane (myth — tape does not prevent breakage and creates larger, more dangerous glass shards)

Preparation Checklist (Before Storm Season)

• Emergency kit: Water (1 gallon/person/day for 3+ days), non-perishable food, manual can opener, flashlights, extra batteries, NOAA weather radio, first aid kit, medications (7-day supply), cash, important documents (copies in waterproof bag), phone chargers and battery packs
• Communication plan: Designated out-of-area contact (local lines may be overwhelmed), family meeting point, school/daycare pickup plan
• Home preparation: Tree trimming (remove dead branches, thin canopy), roof inspection, gutter cleaning, window shutters or pre-cut plywood, sump pump testing, generator testing and fuel supply
• Insurance review: Verify coverage for wind, hail, flood (standard homeowner's policies do NOT cover flooding — separate flood policy required), document home contents with photos/video
• Vehicle preparation: Keep gas tank above half during storm season. Emergency kit in car

Cost Guide

| Item/Service | Typical Range | Notes | |-------------|--------------|-------| | NOAA Weather Radio | $25-$60 | Battery backup, essential | | Hurricane shutters (per window) | $15-$50 (plywood) / $100-$500 (permanent) | Pre-cut plywood is budget option | | Generator (portable) | $500-$2,500 | See brands/generator-brands.md | | Generator (standby, installed) | $5,000-$18,000 | Automatic, whole-home | | Tree trimming (professional) | $300-$1,500 | Annual for large trees near home | | Roof inspection (post-storm) | $100-$300 | Many roofers offer free storm inspections | | Storm damage roof repair | $500-$10,000+ | Varies enormously by scope | | Emergency tarping (roof) | $200-$1,000 | Temporary — prevents further water damage | | Flood insurance (annual) | $500-$5,000+ | NFIP or private; location-dependent |

Shipshape Integration

Shipshape provides comprehensive severe weather preparation and response:

• Weather Alert Integration: NOAA severe weather alerts push directly to the Shipshape app with home-specific preparation checklists. Tornado warnings trigger shelter-in-place guidance. Hurricane watches trigger multi-day preparation timelines
• Pre-Storm Preparation: When severe weather is forecast, Shipshape sends proactive task lists: "Bring in outdoor furniture, test sump pump, verify generator fuel level, charge devices"
• Storm Damage Documentation: Post-storm, Shipshape guides homeowners through room-by-room and exterior damage documentation with photo capture, timestamping, and organized reporting for insurance claims
• Roof Condition Tracking: Records roof age, material, last inspection date, and any previous hail/wind damage. Post-storm alerts prompt professional roof inspection. Dealer receives roof details for accurate damage assessment
• Tree Risk Assessment: Documents trees near the home, condition, and trimming history. Pre-storm alerts flag overdue trimming. Post-storm damage assessment includes tree damage
• Power Outage Response: Outage detection triggers automated checklist: check generator, verify sump pump backup, check refrigerator/freezer (keep doors closed), and CO safety reminders for generator use
• Home Health Score: Storm readiness factors include: roof age/condition, tree proximity, sump pump backup, generator presence, hurricane shutter availability, and drainage system condition
• Dealer Coordination: Post-storm damage alerts route to assigned roofing, tree, and general contractors with home details, enabling faster response and accurate scoping
• Insurance Support: Comprehensive home inventory, pre-storm condition documentation, and post-storm damage records provide robust insurance claim support. Shipshape's ongoing home monitoring creates a documented history of home condition that insurers value