# Severe Weather & Lightning Safety

A practical warning-to-shelter sequence for thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes, destructive wind, and outdoor last-resort situations.

## Immediate rule

Storm shelter hierarchy: substantial building first, enclosed metal-topped vehicle second; tents, isolated trees, open shelters, and overpasses are not safe substitutes.

## Five skills to master

Learn these five competencies in order. Each section below gives a rule, a procedure, and the boundaries that prevent common mistakes.

## Read forecasts, watches, and warnings

- Before the activity: check the local forecast, radar/alerts, and whether your destination has safe shelter.
- Enable emergency alerts. Keep at least one battery-powered method of receiving warnings during outages.
- At a watch: shorten exposure, identify shelter, charge devices, and be ready to stop the activity quickly.
- At a warning: act immediately. Do not wait for visual confirmation of a tornado or a nearby lightning strike.
- After a warning: keep monitoring until the hazard and secondary hazards have clearly passed.
## Lightning shelter and 30-minute rule

- Go inside immediately. Best choices are a substantial building with wiring/plumbing or an enclosed metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
- Avoid unsafe substitutes. Tents, picnic shelters, dugouts, gazebos, open vehicles, and isolated trees do not provide lightning protection.
- Inside a building: avoid corded phones, plumbing, plugged-in equipment, windows/doors, porches, and contact with concrete walls/floors.
- Stay sheltered. Remain in safe shelter for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder .
- Do not unplug equipment during the storm. Handle surge preparation before the storm arrives.
## Tornado sheltering

- Best: basement, storm cellar, or purpose-built safe room.
- If none: use a small interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows and large open rooms.
- Protect the body. Get under sturdy furniture if available and cover the head/neck with arms, a helmet, mattress, or thick blankets without delaying sheltering.
- Leave mobile homes/tents for a sturdy building before the storm arrives.
- Do not shelter under a highway overpass. It can expose you to accelerated wind and flying debris.
## Destructive wind and hail protection

- Move indoors and away from windows.
- Use the lowest interior portion of the building when damaging wind is expected.
- Bring loose outdoor items in only before the storm. Do not go outside during a warning to secure property.
- Keep shoes, light, and a helmet/head protection nearby because broken glass and debris may be present after impact.
- Afterward, avoid downed lines, leaking gas, unstable trees, and damaged buildings.
## Outdoor last-resort risk reduction

- Leave high ground. Get off summits, ridges, and open hilltops.
- Do not shelter under an isolated tree or rocky overhang.
- Get away from water and long conductive objects such as fences and power lines.
- Do not lie flat on the ground.
- Plan earlier next time. If thunderstorms are forecast, adjust start time/route so you are near proper shelter before they develop.
## Practice before an emergency

- Identify the safest storm room in every building you regularly use.
- Enable wireless emergency alerts and test a battery radio.
- Run a 60-second tornado shelter drill.
- When camping, identify the nearest substantial building or enclosed vehicle before setting up.
- Write “30 minutes after last thunder” on outdoor-event plans.
Use guides as references, not substitutes for training

Conditions, local law, official emergency instructions, product instructions, and hands-on training can change what is appropriate. When an emergency service or responsible authority gives you a specific instruction for the active incident, follow it.

- National Weather Service — Lightning Safety Overview
- National Weather Service — Lightning Tips
- National Weather Service — What to Do During a Tornado
Source links are included so the guide can be checked against current official guidance. Review dates and local instructions before high-risk travel or seasonal hazards.