Weather Prepared Individual or Family

Coastal Threats for the East and Gulf; Record Warmth for the Central U.S.

Persistent onshore flow across the Southeast and portions of the mid-Atlantic will keep the risk of rip currents through the weekend. Rainfall could be locally heavy across Florida, especially along the eastern shoreline. Meanwhile, record warmth for portions of the Plains and Midwest with elevated fire concerns. For the west, a trough will keep the pattern unsettled with wet conditions. Read More >

I.Getting Started: Awareness and Education

These will be your initial goals and responsibilities:

Monitor for developing weather threats (some times days in advance) and communicate potential hazards with personnel.

Disseminate important weather information through the family.

Ensure weather response plans you will develop are activated when triggered.

Review: “Being Weather Ready”

Review: “Be a Force of Nature” from the Weather Ready Nation (WRN) website.

Watch: Introduction to the NWS Baltimore/Washington Office – 4 minute video

II.Develop a Severe Weather Plan for You and Your Family

Go to this Red Cross site to develop a family disaster plan.

Make sure your plan is written down:

Go thru the weather threats listed here.
- Would the plan you developed cover all of these weather threats?
- Click on the individual hazards. Would the warnings for any of these trigger actions from you and your family?
- Make any necessary edits/additions. And add any triggers that would activate parts of your plan.
Ensure your plan contains the following
- An evacuation plan.
- List contacts of people to notify.
- Update phone numbers of police, fire, utilities, hospitals, etc.
- A stock of supplies (ready-to stay kit) if you need to stay home for an extended period.
- A way to monitor conditions to determine what course of action is necessary.
- Establish the safest places in your home (or near your home, if none) to shelter.

III.Know How to Receive Weather Watches and Warnings

Have multiple ways of receiving weather forecasts and warning information. Include ways that don’t rely on the internet or power since they may be lost. These may include:

A NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup. This can be used to monitor the weather when needed, but also alerts you when a vital warning has been issued for your county or independent city.

Bookmarked list of weather Internet sites including www.weather.gov/washington.

Battery powered AM / FM radio.

Acquire a smart phone app to receive NWS Watches/Warnings and Advisories. Search your app store for “Weather Warnings” or similar.

IV.Review your Weather Ready plan once per year.

Routinely review your ‘Weather Prepared’ plan once per year.

Ensure severe weather preparedness and disaster plans are current.

Update your list & bookmarks of weather web sites.

Conduct a weather drill to practice your weather threat response plans. Test a different weather threat each year.

Update all contact lists, phone number and email lists.