

Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, fire department, and which radio station to tune for emergency information.Teach family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity and water.Make sure that all family members know how to respond after a thunderstorm.Dead or rotting trees and branches can fall during a severe thunderstorm and cause injury and damage.Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries.When you write, please note that NWS has permission to use your story and, if possible, let us know the town and state you were in and the year the event took place. If you, or someone you know, have been a victim of severe weather, please share your story so we can prevent others from becoming victims. You'll also find links to research, past events, other topics of interest, and downloadable materials about thunderstorms, lightning and tornadoes. If you know what to do before, during, and after severe weather you can increase your chances of survival. This website is designed to teach you how to stay safe in a severe thunderstorm. These hazards are covered in more detail under the tornado, lightning safety and flood safety websites. Thunderstorms also produce tornadoes and dangerous lightning heavy rain can cause flash flooding. Some severe thunderstorms can produce hail larger than softballs or winds over 100 mph, so please pay attention to the weather so you know when severe storms are possible. Wind this strong is able to break off large branches, knock over trees or cause structural damage to trees. Hail this size can damage property such as plants, roofs and vehicles. Severe thunderstorms are officially defined as storms that are capable of producing hail that is an inch or larger or wind gusts over 58 mph.
