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What to do Before a Severe Thunderstorm
When severe weather is on the way, every minute counts. There are quick, last-minute steps you can take—like closing interior doors—to better protect your building from hail, strong winds, and even tornadoes.
Begin Last-Minute Prep!
If severe weather is forecast for your area, follow these last-minute steps before the thunder rolls and the wind blows to help reduce damage to your business. Know the difference between a watch and a warning.
Checklist: Last-minute Prep & Recovery After Damage
Quick, last-minute actions you can take and steps to recover quickly.
STAY INFORMED AND ACTIVATE YOUR PLAN
1. Ensure 3 ways to receive weather alerts.
- Ensure you have a reliable source for severe weather information. Follow your local National Weather Service (NWS) office and the NWS Storm Prediction Center (SPC) on Facebook or X.
- Ask staff to enable wireless emergency alerts on their cell phones. Check with your wireless service provider for device-specific information.
- Have your weather alert radio ready to go.
2) Know the difference between a watch and a warning.
Refresh your knowledge of severe weather terminology:
- A WATCH means be prepared.
- A WARNING means take action now.
WHEN A WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED, TAKE LAST MINUTE STEPS TO PREPARE BEFORE STORMS ARRIVE
3) Activate your severe weather business plan.
- Be sure your severe weather shelter is clear and ready to use.
- Alert your team to activate the severe weather plan with communication and last-minute actions.
4) Secure outdoor items.
- Stay safe. If you can see lightning or hear thunder, go inside.
- Move outdoor inventory indoors or to a safe shelter.
- Move outdoor items such as patio seating, planters, inventory, and wood pallets indoors.
- For agricultural farms, move expensive machinery and tractors inside storage sheds.
5) Close all commercial doors.
- Close rollup, garage, and overhead doors all the way.
- Initiate wind locks if available.
6) Close all personnel doors and windows, including interior doors
- Close all exterior windows and doors to keep the wind and rain out.
- Close all interior doors to compartmentalize pressure from the wind if it gets inside your building.
WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED, ACT NOW
7) Install a tornado safe room or storm shelter.
- Take shelter now! Send employees and customers to the safe room to hunker down. This should be in an interior room with no windows on the lowest floor such as a stairwell or bathroom.
Annual Business Prep
These annual maintenance activities will help to prepare your business before severe weather strikes and reduce the potential for damage
Building Upgrades
We can’t stop severe thunderstorms, but we can strengthen building components to better prepare for them. Upgrade now and be Thunderstorm Ready!
Before Severe Event
If severe weather is forecast for your area, follow these last-minute steps before the thunder rolls and the wind blows to help reduce damage to your business.
After Severe Event
Once you are able to safely return to your building, note damage that must be repaired by a professional and tasks that can easily be completed as ado-it-yourself project.