Weather Safety: The Hero’s Guide

Knowing what to do during a storm helps you stay calm and keeps your family safe. Even the best meteorologists and storm chasers have a plan when the sky gets loud. Storms can be big, loud, exciting, or even scary, but they also have lots of energy that we need to respect and act quickly upon. By learning a few simple “Hero Moves” now, you can stay calm and lead the way for your family and friends.

Your Safety Mission

Every hero needs a plan. We are going to walk through the three most important rules for staying safe during a storm. These are the same rules that professional meteorologists use to keep themselves protected!

  • The “Low-Five” Rule: Learning how to position your body for maximum safety.

  • The Helmet Rule: Using everyday gear to protect your most important tool, your brain!

  • The Safe Spot Search: Scouting your home to find your own “Storm Fortress.”

Let’s go into each point a little deeper:

The “Low-Five” Rule

When a storm gets serious, your goal is to get as small and as low as possible. In your safe spot, you should crouch down on your knees and tuck your head down toward the floor. Staying low helps you stay steady and keeps you away from anything that might be moving in the wind. Most importantly, stay far away from windows. Strong winds can break glass, and the “Low-Five” position ensures you are tucked away in a safe, solid part of the room.

The Helmet & Shoe Rule

It might sound funny to wear a helmet and shoes inside, but it is one of the smartest things to do when going to your safe spot. During very strong storms, things like tree branches or loose toys outside can be moved by the wind. A bike helmet, batting helmet, or even a thick skateboard helmet acts like a personal shield for your head. Any kind of shoe will do the same thing for your feet! Since your brain and feet are the most important tools for staying calm and making good choices, protecting them with helmets and shoes is a total “pro” move.

Scouting Your Safe Spot

Every house has a “Storm Fortress,” the strongest area where the wind can’t reach you. You want to find a place with as many walls between you and the outside as possible.

  • Basements: These are the gold standard for safety because they are underground and out of the wind’s path.

  • Interior Rooms: If you don’t have a basement, look for a small room right in the middle of your house. A hallway, a closet, or a bathroom is perfect.

  • The No-Window Rule: The most important part of any safe spot is that it has no windows. This keeps you away from breaking glass and helps you stay focused on staying calm until the storm passes.

Junior Spot Challenge

Don’t wait for a storm to find your spot!

  1. The Scout: Walk through your house right now. Which room has the most walls between it and the backyard?

  2. The Gear Check: Make sure your helmet and shoes are in a place where you can find them, even if the lights are off.

  3. The 30-Second Sprint: Have a grown-up say “Storm Drill!” and see if you can get to your safe spot and into your “Low-Five” position in under 30 seconds.