No matter where you live, you’ll encounter storms. Most of the time these are routine, but some cause serious and dangerous problems. Here are tips for preparing for storms, and weathering them safely.

• Always keep a battery-powered radio in your home so that you can tune to radio stations if you lose electricity. Check or change the batteries frequently.
• Keep a flashlight in an easily accessible spot on every floor of your home. Check the batteries monthly, and replace them as needed.
• Keep a supply of candles on hand for power failures.
• As a safety precaution before leaving the house on vacation, unplug all electrical appliances except for those lights connected to automatic timers.
• If you live in a storm-prone area, nail down roof shingles or use adequate adhesive to keep them from blowing off in a violent wind. For roofs with shingles that are not the seal-down type, apply a little dab of roofing cement under each tab.
• A lightning-protection system should offer an easy, direct path for the bolt to follow into the ground and thus prevent injury or damage. Grounding rods (at least two for a house) should be placed at opposite corners of the house.
• Don’t go out during a hurricane unless you have to; however, if flooding threatens, seek high ground, and follow the instructions of civil defense personnel.
• When a major storm is imminent, close shutters, board windows, or tape the inside of larger panes with an “X” along the full length of their diagonals. Even a light material like masking tape may give the glass the extra margin of strength it needs to resist cracking.
• When a tornado threatens, leave windows slightly ajar.
• The basement is not a good shelter during a tornado — it’s too close to gas pipes, sewer pipes, drains, and cesspools. A better shelter would be underground, far from the house (in case the roof falls) and away from the gas and sewer systems. Let all family members know where the shelter is.
• Keep an eye on large trees — even healthy ones — that could damage your house if felled in a storm. Cut them back, if necessary.