Thunderstorm, Lightning & Hail Safety Checklist: 14 Items
Reduce severe thunderstorm risks by monitoring warnings, moving indoors, and avoiding lightning and flood hazards.
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🛡️ Prepare Before an Emergency
Notes: Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Notes: Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Notes: Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Notes: Distinguish watches from warnings before storms arrive.
Distinguish watches from warnings before storms arrive.
Notes: Open shelters and isolated trees are unsafe in lightning.
Open shelters and isolated trees are unsafe in lightning.
Notes: Protect doors and windows without risking exposure.
Protect doors and windows without risking exposure.
Notes: One thunderstorm can produce several hazards.
One thunderstorm can produce several hazards.
⚠️ Respond Safely When Needed
Notes: Stay away from open areas and water.
Stay away from open areas and water.
Notes: Lightning can travel through wiring and pipes.
Lightning can travel through wiring and pipes.
Notes: Turn around and seek a safer route.
Turn around and seek a safer route.
Notes: Follow local warnings if severe conditions continue.
Follow local warnings if severe conditions continue.
🔄 Recover, Maintain & Review
Notes: Keep away from electrical hazards.
Keep away from electrical hazards.
Notes: Contact insurers if necessary.
Contact insurers if necessary.
Notes: Repair damaged equipment before the next storm.
Repair damaged equipment before the next storm.
Complete Guide
How to Use This Checklist
Reduce severe thunderstorm risks by monitoring warnings, moving indoors, and avoiding lightning and flood hazards.
Follow current alerts and instructions from local officials. Hazards, climate, geography, access requirements, and household needs can change which actions are appropriate.
Important Safety and Scope Notes
This practical checklist is an independent, English-language adaptation of the Ready.gov preparedness topic. It does not reproduce FEMA publications and is not endorsed by FEMA or any U.S. government agency.
Use this checklist to organize preparations and recovery tasks. In an active emergency, follow the latest official instructions rather than relying on a static checklist.
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Open a related checklist for supporting tasks and household planning.
Sources & Official Guidance
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