Hurricane and Typhoon
How tropical cyclones form, what the categories mean, and what to do before one makes landfall.
Extreme Weather Preparedness
By the time severe weather hits, it’s already too late. Disaster preparedness is about having an established safety plan. Whether it’s preparedness for floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or fires, the key to survival in disasters is planning. Use our preparedness section to stay informed, make a plan, and most importantly—remain safe in an emergency.
Prepare for…
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Tornado
Where to shelter, the difference between a watch and a warning, and what the EF scale measures.
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Winter Weather
Winterize your home and car, build a cold-weather kit, and drive safely on snow and ice.
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Storm Surge
Why surge rather than wind is a hurricane's deadliest hazard, and how to find your own elevation.
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Supercells
The anatomy of a severe thunderstorm, and the hail, wind and tornadoes a supercell can produce.
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Flooding
Flood versus flash flood, and why you should never drive into water across a road.
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Lightning
How lightning forms, how far from a storm it can strike, and where to go when thunder rolls.
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Hail
How hailstones grow inside a thunderstorm, and how to protect a car, a roof and a window.
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Landslide
What triggers a slide, the warning signs around a house, and what to do when the ground moves.
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Earthquake
How to react safely while the ground is shaking, and how to secure a home before it does.
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Tsunami
How seismic sea waves form, the natural warnings that precede them, and when to climb.
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Wildfire
Defensible space, an evacuation plan, and what makes a house in the woods survivable.
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Extreme Heat
Heat is the number one weather-related killer. Know the symptoms of heat illness and the first aid for each.
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Volcano
What an eruption sends into the air and down the slopes, and how to prepare for ashfall.