Even though we are hundreds of miles from the coast, strong and damaging wind from tropical systems can still reach our area. Sustained winds of tropical storm force (39+mph) have occurred from tropical systems moving through our area in the past, especially in higher elevations. The good news is there are some things you can do in order to keep yourself, your home, and your family safe.

Some things to think about: 

• Do you have mature trees around your home? Are they trimmed up and in good shape, or maybe dead and rotting? Have trees trimmed and dead limbs or trees removed before the start of hurricane season to prevent damage to your home and keep the people and things inside it safe.
• Are structures in your yard anchored properly? Sheds and dogs houses can easily turn into flying projectiles if not properly anchored. 
• Do you have a place to store other lawn furniture and ornaments indoors in case a tropical system approaches? If not secured, these items can also become projectiles that can do damage to your home.
• Do you have a place to store vehicles during strong wind, or another way to protect them?
• Power loss may occur if trees fall on power lines. Are you prepared to lose power at your home? Do you have someone with special needs in your home or medical equipment that needs a constant power source? Consider talking to your local emergency management office or investing in a generator if so. 
• If using a generator in a power outage, make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated location away from living areas to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• What will you do if fallen trees or debris block your way out of your home and first responders can't reach you? What if this happens and you are not at home?

Tornadoes are common in landfalling tropical systems, and though they can occur anywhere in the storm, occur most often in the right front quadrant (compared to the storm's motion) of the storm. Tornadoes in tropical systems can spin up extremely quickly and some can't even be detected on radar, so you need to be prepared for tornadoes to spin up at any time. Tropical tornadoes are not usually strong (most are EF0 and EF1), but they can still do damage. 

Some things to think about:

• Normal tornado safety rules apply. You need to seek an interior room on the lowest floor of your home. No windows or doors.
• A mobile home is NEVER a safe place to be. If a tropical system is coming through the area, the mobile home should be abandoned for safer shelter for the duration of the storm. 
• Make sure you have a way to get tornado warnings during the storm. Remember power may go out, so having a battery-operated radio and battery back-ups for your cell phone is a good idea so you can still receive warnings.
• Because tropical tornadoes can develop so quickly, be prepared to have far less time to get to safe shelter than usual. You may only have a minute or two in some cases.
• Postponing all travel and remaining in a sturdy building for the duration of the tropical system is the best option, but if you must travel, be prepared to pull over and seek shelter in a sturdy building if a tornado warning is issued.
• Make sure your emergency kit is stored in your safe spot. Some other things to keep there include an extra sturdy pair of shoes and bicycle helmets, if you have them.

Landslides are a threat from tropical systems that often doesn't occur in coastal areas, but is a concern in inland areas when a tropical system or its remnants move over mountains. Local research has discovered that receiving 5" or more in 24 hours in mountainous area makes landslides more likely to occur, and rainfall of 10" or more in 24 hours makes widespread landslides likely. Watching the forecast to see predicted rainfall totals is very important for this reason. 

Some things for you to think about:

• Do you live in the mountains? Do you live on a sloped surface? This will help to evaluate your landslide risk.
• Do you have any "modified" slopes (slopes humans have built or excavated) near your home?
• Have any landslides occurred near your home or in your area that you know of?
• Make sure you have a kit ready to go with supplies and other vital information in case of evacuation. Officials may order you to leave your home very quickly in the case of a suspected or imminent landslide. 
• Have a plan in case landslides wash out roads that lead to your home. You may have to shelter in place in your home for a long period of time, or you may be unable to reach your home.