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| 1. |
Find your safest place to wait out a storm. If you don’t have a basement or storm shelter, choose a small room without windows such as a bathroom or central closet. Discuss this location with everyone in your family. |
| 2. |
Create a storm emergency kit. In a waterproof container, place flashlights, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, blankets, a first-aid kit, non-perishable food and a large container of drinking water. |
| 3. |
Invest in a generator. If your power goes out, a home generator can restore electricity safely in as little as 10 seconds. |
| 4. |
Survey trees for weak branches. Remove loose tree limbs to keep them from falling on your home or car during a storm. |
| 5. | Buy a NOAA Weather Radio. Available online or from electronics stores, weather radios broadcast warnings, watches and other weather information from the nearest National Weather Service office 24 hours a day, even when the TV or other radios are turned off. |
| 6. |
Put aside some emergency cash. If the power is out, ATMs and credit cards can’t be used. |
| 7. |
Secure artwork and other loose items. Use v-hooks instead of nails to mount paintings, which will allow artwork to shift without falling off the wall. |
| 8. |
Clear your yard. Keep bikes, shovels and other items in the garage so they aren’t flung around by windstorms. |
| 9. |
Document your home’s contents. Walk through every room of your home to prepare a list of possessions, taking photos and videos, to help with insurance claims later. |
| 10. |
Check your insurance policies. Make sure your home and auto policies provide adequate coverage for wind and hail storms. |
Download a Spring Home Comfort Checklist
