Severe weather can be unavoidable. Here's how to stay safe when it happens
Severe weather conditions are uncontrollable and sometimes unavoidable, but you can take steps to be prepared.
It's always smart to take safety measures during potential natural disasters and be aware of what to do, even if it seems like common sense. The Kentucky Emergency Management division keeps guides on how to stay safe before, during and after severe weather.
Here's a quick look at how the department says you can stay safe and take care of your family.
What to do during severe thunderstorms
Thunderstorms can include lightning, heavy rain, high winds and even tornadoes. If you see lightning, you should stay indoors to keep out of danger of getting struck.
The emergency management department recommends staying aware of signs that storms could be approaching — including dark clouds, lightning and thunder. Get inside if a thunderstorm warning is in place, and keep an emergency survival kit handy, with flashlights, a battery-operated radio, first aid products, food, water and essential medication.
If you're outdoors when storms start, try to get inside and stay away from windows, doors and skylights. If you can't get to shelter in time, stay inside a car. And if that isn't an option, try to avoid trees, utility lines and fences and "make yourself as small as possible" to avoid lightning, by placing your hands on your knees with your head in between.
Once the storm has passed, wait 30 minutes before going outside, and check for damage or injuries.
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What to do during flash floods
During flash floods, Kentucky's emergency services personnel say, walls of water can rise between 10 and 20 inches tall and roll through with debris and chemicals. Try to get to higher ground to stay safe if you're outside, and leave the area if an evacuation order is in place.
Stay informed about potential floods and keep an emergency kit handy, the department recommends, and have a plan to communicate with family members if you're separated.
Never walk or drive in flood waters. If your car gets stuck during flooding, leave it and get to higher ground.
It's important to note flood dangers aren't over when water begins to recede, the department says. Don't try to return home until authorities say it's safe. Inspect buildings for cracks or damages and stay away if flood water is still present.
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What to do during lightning
Lightning strikes aren't always fatal, the department says, but they can be. Deaths are more likely to occur during lightning strike in the summertime in the afternoon or evening.
Stay indoors if a lightning advisory is in place, inside a building or a car with a roof. Unplug electrical devices as well and avoid contact with electrical equipment, along with bathroom and plumbing appliances. Water conducts electricity, so don't wash your hands or clothes and don't take a shower when lightning is present. Use cellphones over landlines as well.
After the last clap of thunder, it's recommended you stay inside for 30 minutes and avoid areas damaged by the storm.
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What to do during a tornado
Telltale signs of a tornado include a dark and greenish sky, large hail, dark and low clouds and loud roaring sounds. The emergency management division says the biggest danger can be flying debris, so keep protective coverings in or next to your shelter — think mattresses, sleeping bags or thick blankets. The goal is to put as many walls between you and the storm as possible.
Always stay indoors and away from windows during a tornado. Your best course of action depends on where you are when the storm hits:
In a house with a basement: Go downstairs and get under a strong item, like a desk, or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Locate where heavy appliances are in the floor above you and don't shelter under them.
In a house without a basement, including a dorm or an apartment: Go to the lowest floor, the smallest room (like a bathroom), under a stairwell or an interior hallway without windows. Crouch low on the floor and face down. Shelter in a bathtub if you can and cover yourself with a thick layer.
In a car or truck: Park as soon as possible and outside of traffic lanes. Stay inside the car with your seatbelt on and cover yourself with your hands, a blanket or any thick object you may have available. Stay below the windows. Or, if you can safely get to a noticeably lower level than the roadway, leave your car and lie there. Avoid sheltering under bridges.
Outside: If you come across strong winds or flying debris while you're outside, lie face-down and protect the back of your head with your hands. Stay far from trees and cars if you can.
When the tornado passes, stay away from downed power lines and any damaged buildings. Avoid broken glass, nails, or other sharp objects and do not use matches or lighters because there could be natural gas pipes orfuel tanks leaking nearby.
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Reach Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez at abrinez@gannett.com; follow her on Twitter at @SoyAnaAlvarez.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to stay safe in severe weather like tornadoes, lightning, storms
