Ten Severe-Weather Safety Tips

Aug. 29, 1999
When this year"s hurricane season began June 1, it was predicted that the season would be an active one. In the event a storm threatens your area, follow 10 important safety tips.

When this year's hurricane season began June 1, it was predicted that the season would be an active one. The prognosticators are turning out to be accurate, with Bret wreaking havoc in Texas, Dennis threatening to strike the Southeast and Cindy potentially stirring up trouble across the eastern Atlantic.

With this in mind, The Weather Channel and the American Red Cross are providing the top 10 tips for preparing for disaster and preventing unnecessary damage, whether it be an employee's home or an employer's work site.

In the event a storm threatens your area, here are the 10 important safety tips:

  • Determine your insurance eligibility by contacting your local insurance agent.
  • Learn how your town handles emergencies; know the evacuation route.
  • Locate the American Red Cross shelter nearest you.
  • Set up a common meeting place in the event family members becoming separated.
  • Develop a disaster preparedness kit with nonperishable food, water, a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, a first aid kit, tools, cash, insurance documents and other day-to-day necessities.
  • Make sure your car has a full tank of gas and store a disaster preparedness kit in your car.
  • If evacuation is imminent, lock and board-up windows.
  • Stow away small objects that could cause damage in high winds; anchor outdoor objects that cannot be brought inside.
  • Turn off water, gas and electric utilities when leaving your home.
  • Always stay informed on a storm's development if your area becomes threatened.
About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

April 25, 2025
Environmental audits should be a core part of your EHS program regardless of whether you choose to pursue ISO 14001 certification.
April 25, 2025
Streamline EHS inspections. Conduct, track, and manage inspections effortlessly with customizable checklists, real-time reporting, and actionable insights.
April 25, 2025
A winning business case is based on the ROI of the project. The essential first step is determining your EHS costs today.
April 25, 2025
The use of QR codes can greatly simplify observation, near miss, and incident reporting and improve the quantity and quality of data. The more safety information that is collected...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!