National Preparedness Thunderstorm Safety

9/22/2020 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month and SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico wants you to be aware and prepared for severe thunderstorms. A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding, and high winds can damage homes and blow down tree and utility poles - causing widespread power outages.

WATCH vs. WARNING - Know the difference

Watch: Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area

Warning: Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property.

Be Prepared

• Learn about your local community’s emergency warning system for severe thunderstorms
• Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm This should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail
• Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a severe thunderstorm
• Make trees and shrubbery more wind resistant by keeping them trimmed and removing damaged branches
• Protect your animals by ensuring that any outside buildings that house them are protected in the same way as your home

Make Preparedness Kit

• Water—one gallon per person, per day
• Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation & personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family & emergency contact information
• Extra cash

Final Step

Call SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico at 804.740.6151 if your home or business experiences damages from a storm. We have the resources to handle any size disaster.

Information provided by The American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/thunderstorm.html