What's on a severe weather prep checklist?
Updated August 2026
Once a watch is posted, the whole drill is about 60 minutes of yard and kit work while you still have daylight and calm: bring in or tie down anything the wind can throw, clear the gutters and storm drains, charge every device to 100%, and stage flashlights and water. A severe thunderstorm by definition carries 58 mph winds or 1-inch hail, either of which turns loose patio gear into projectiles. Know your safe room and your water and gas shutoffs before the warning upgrades.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Bring in or tie down furniture, grills, and trash cans | At watch | 20 min · DIY |
| Clear gutters and storm drains so water flows | At watch | 20–40 min · DIY |
| Charge phones, laptops, and battery banks to 100% | At watch | passive |
| Park cars in the garage or clear of trees | At watch | 5 min · DIY |
| Fill tubs or jugs if a well pump could lose power | At watch | 10 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Move to the interior safe room, away from windows | At warning | now |
| Keep shoes and a flashlight within reach | At warning | 1 min · DIY |
| Unplug sensitive electronics against surges | At warning | 3 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Trim weak or overhanging branches near the roof | Yearly | pro or DIY |
| Test the sump pump and its battery backup | Quarterly | 5 min · DIY |
| Restock the kit: 1 gal water per person per day, 3 days food | Twice a year | 30 min · DIY |
What neglect costs
Skip the yard and the wind does the sorting: an unsecured grill or trampoline becomes a projectile through a window or a neighbor's siding. A clogged gutter backs storm water under the shingles and into the fascia, and a single broken window during a wind event lets rain gut a room. Expect a smashed window at $300 to 800, storm roof repair from $400 to 3,000, and a flooded basement from a failed sump anywhere from $10,000 to 30,000. Twenty minutes of tie-down beats all three.
Leave these to a pro
The pro line items are the ones that need a ladder or a bucket truck. A tree service to take down hazard limbs over the roof runs $300 to 1,500 depending on size and access, and an electrician can add a whole-home surge protector at the panel for $200 to 500 to guard against lightning-borne spikes. If your area sees repeat outages, that is also the moment to price a standby generator, which the hurricane prep list covers in depth.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning?
A watch means conditions are favorable for severe storms in your area over the next several hours, so it is your cue to prep: secure the yard, charge devices, and stage supplies. A warning means severe weather is happening or imminent and detected on radar, so it is time to act and move to your safe room. Put simply, a watch is get ready, a warning is take shelter now.
How much water and food should I keep on hand for a storm?
Plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day and a minimum three-day supply, though two weeks is the sturdier target if you can store it. Add nonperishable food that needs no cooking, a manual can opener, a week of any medications, flashlights, batteries, and a battery or crank radio. Rotate the water and food twice a year so nothing in the kit has quietly expired.
Where should I shelter during a severe thunderstorm?
Head to an interior room on the lowest level, away from windows, and stay off corded phones and away from plumbing while lightning is active, since both can carry a strike. If the storm carries a tornado risk, that same interior room doubles as your tornado shelter. Wait until the warning expires or the storm has clearly passed before heading back outside to check for damage.