Summer Severe Weather Preparedness: Staying Safe During Storms, Flooding, and Power Outages

Summer Weather Can Change Quickly

Summer weather is not limited to heat. Thunderstorms, lightning, flash flooding, high winds, poor air quality, and power outages can create serious safety concerns. Families and organizations should prepare before severe weather interrupts daily routines, outdoor events, travel, or business operations. 

Preparedness improves decision-making. When people know what to do, they are less likely to delay action during fast-changing conditions.

Monitor Alerts Before and During Activities

Weather awareness should be part of summer planning. Before outdoor activities, check reliable weather sources and enable emergency alerts on mobile devices. For events, designate one person to monitor weather conditions and communicate delays, sheltering, or cancellation decisions. Do not wait for visible danger. Lightning can strike miles from a storm, and flash flooding can occur even when rain is falling somewhere upstream.

Lightning Safety

If thunder is heard, move indoors or into a hard-topped vehicle. Open fields, beaches, pools, golf courses, tents, picnic shelters, dugouts, and trees are not safe places during lightning. Outdoor event planners should identify shelter locations before the event begins. Participants should know how they will be notified if activities stop.

Flooding and Road Safety

Flooded roads are dangerous because water depth and road damage are difficult to judge. Drivers should never attempt to cross flooded roadways. A safer route or delay is always better than risking a vehicle being swept away. Families should know local flood-prone areas, especially during vacation travel or camping trips. Keep emergency supplies in the vehicle and avoid parking in low-lying areas when storms are forecast.

Power Outage Preparedness

Summer storms can cause power outages that affect lighting, refrigeration, communication, medical devices, elevators, air conditioning, and security systems.

Households and businesses should prepare by keeping:

1. Flashlights
2. Batteries
3. Backup chargers
4. Bottled water
5. Non-perishable food
6. Medication plans
7. Emergency contacts
8. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
9. Cooler or ice packs for temperature-sensitive medications if needed

People who rely on powered medical equipment should have a backup power plan and know when to relocate to a safer environment.

Heat and Power Loss

A power outage during extreme heat is especially dangerous. Without air conditioning, indoor temperatures can rise quickly. Families should identify cooling centers, relatives, public buildings, or other safe locations before they are needed. Check on older adults, neighbors living alone, people with medical conditions, and families with young children after a storm or outage.

Communication Planning

Storms can disrupt phone service and internet access. Families should identify an out-of-area contact, meeting location, and backup communication method. Organizations should have a plan for contacting staff, clients, volunteers, or participants if events are delayed or canceled.

Training and Community Preparedness

First aid, CPR, AED, bleeding control, and emergency planning education can support safer responses during storm-related injuries, falls, medical events, and power outage emergencies. BVAC Rescue Response Training Center helps individuals and organizations strengthen readiness before emergencies occur.

Preparedness Takeaways

1. Monitor weather alerts before outdoor activities.
2. Move indoors when thunder is heard.
3. Never drive through flooded roadways.
4. Prepare for power outages, especially during heat waves.
5. Check on vulnerable neighbors after storms.