Severe Weather Preparedness: Simple Steps That Save Lives

Severe weather can develop quickly and with little warning. Whether your employees work in grain handling, feed manufacturing, agronomy, transportation, or outdoor agricultural operations, understanding how to prepare for severe weather can make the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

At Safety Made Simple, we believe preparation is one of the most effective forms of prevention. Taking time now to establish emergency procedures, identify shelter locations, and train employees can help protect your people when severe weather strikes.

Understanding Severe Weather Alerts

One of the first steps in preparedness is understanding the difference between a watch and a warning.

Tornado Watch: A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop in the area. While a tornado may not be present, employees should remain alert, review emergency procedures, and be prepared to take shelter quickly if conditions worsen.

Tornado Warning: A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. This is an imminent threat. When a warning is issued, employees should stop work and move to designated shelter areas immediately.

Understanding these alerts and responding appropriately can save valuable seconds during an emergency.

Preparation Starts Before the Storm

The best time to prepare for severe weather is long before dark clouds appear on the horizon.

Organizations should:

  • Identify and post shelter locations at every facility.
  • Establish procedures for accounting for employees, visitors, and contractors.
  • Develop emergency notification systems and alarm procedures.
  • Ensure communications are accessible to employees with disabilities or language barriers.
  • Assign emergency responsibilities such as roll call, first aid, weather monitoring, and incident coordination.
  • Maintain emergency supply kits with items such as flashlights, radios, batteries, blankets, water, and first aid supplies.
  • Conduct routine severe weather drills to ensure employees understand their responsibilities.

Just as important, leadership should regularly review emergency plans to ensure they remain current as facilities, staffing levels, and operations change.

Know Where to Take Shelter

When severe weather strikes, location matters. Seeking shelter in the safest option available is key.

Best Option: Underground Shelter

Basements and storm shelters provide the highest level of protection during tornado events.

If Underground Shelter Is Not Available

Employees should:

  • Move to the lowest floor possible.
  • Seek a small interior room or hallway.
  • Stay away from windows, doors, and exterior walls.
  • Position themselves near the center of the structure.
  • Avoid large open areas and buildings with wide-span roofs whenever possible.

These simple actions can significantly reduce the risk of injury from flying debris or structural collapse.

What If You’re in a Vehicle?

Agricultural employees frequently work in mobile environments, making severe weather response more challenging. If caught in a vehicle during a tornado:

Option 1: Remain in the vehicle with your seatbelt fastened, keeping your head below window level and covering your head and neck with your arms, a blanket, or a heavy jacket.

Option 2: If a safer location is available, move to a low-lying area away from the vehicle, lie flat, and cover your head with your hands.

Never seek shelter beneath an overpass, as wind speeds can increase dramatically in these areas.

Training Builds Confidence

Many employees may only experience severe weather emergencies a handful of times during their careers. That’s why training is essential.

When employees understand warning systems, shelter procedures, accountability processes, and emergency expectations, they can react quickly and confidently during a crisis.

Safety Made Simple’s Severe Weather Course helps organizations prepare employees for weather-related emergencies by covering:

  • Severe weather hazards
  • Tornado watches and warnings
  • Emergency preparedness planning
  • Shelter identification
  • Employee accountability procedures
  • Best practices for protecting people during severe weather events

The course provides practical, easy-to-understand guidance that helps employees recognize risks and respond appropriately when conditions change.

If you’re not a subscriber yet, we suggest taking 5-minutes to review our free Take 5 – Severe Weather safety talk.

The Goal Is Simple

You cannot prevent severe weather, but you can prepare for it.

Simple steps such as identifying shelter locations, conducting drills, assigning responsibilities, and providing effective training can dramatically improve emergency response and help protect lives.

At Safety Made Simple, our mission remains the same: Together, we bring them home safely.