How to Stay Safe During Natural Disasters

At home or on the road, these tips can help you stay out of harm's way in dangerous weather

Jeff Csatari

AARP

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En español

Published February 09, 2022

/ Updated July 09, 2024

left a tornado approaching a suburban neighborhood right a man and dog falling through the ice

BRENT HUMPHREYS (2)

We used to know what to expect when it came to the weather: It was warm in the South, colder in the North, and there were dry seasons and rainy seasons. We knew what weather emergencies to plan for.

But things have changed. A record-breaking 28 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters hit the U.S. in 2023, including more than 1,000 tornados, 20 tropical cyclones and the deadly wildfire in Maui. And this year could raise the bar again. A thunderstorm dropped cantaloupe-sized hail in the Texas panhandle on January 2, Caribou, Maine, issued its first-ever excessive heat advisory when temperatures hit 110 on June 19 and forecasters at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration are predicting an above-average hurricane season with up to 25 named storms.

As our climate changes, more of us are seeing extreme weather that we’ve never encountered before. Read on for some dangers that can arise when the weather gets weird and how you can protect yourself.

CRISIS: A tornado is headed in your direction

a man and his dog taking shelter from a tornado underneath basement stairs

Steve Sanford

Not all tornadoes look like the one in The Wizard of Oz. Many aren’t even visible; they can be wrapped in rain, cloud cover or darkness. The following are telltale signs of hidden funnel activity: whirling dust or debris under thick clouds; rain and hail, followed by a fast, strong wind shift; a loud roar that doesn’t fade like thunder does. At night you may see blue, green or white flashes near ground level. That’s not lightning, though — it means wind is knocking around power lines. Heed all warnings on your phone, TV or radio.

Save yourself

The biggest tornado threat is debris (especially glass) riding 100-plus mph winds. At home, avoid windows and use small, centrally located rooms for shelter.

Basements are best, but anywhere windowless, where you can use sturdy furniture, mattresses and thick blankets as protection from debris, will offer shelter.
In a vehicle, try to drive away from the clouds; if that’s not an option, park the vehicle out of traffic lanes and seek shelter. If you have to stay in your car because of flying debris, keep your seat belt on and lower your head below window level, covering up with whatever’s available.
If you’re stuck outside in the open, get away from trees or vehicles and lie on your belly, in the lowest place you can find. And if you have helmets on hand — sports, military, motorcycle — wear ’em.

Be prepared

Cellular service can be overloaded or disabled in a storm. Keep a battery-powered radio at home so you don’t miss tornado warnings, suggests Roger Edwards, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.

CRISIS: The power’s out

a couple assembling blackout supplies such as batteries a flashlight medicine and first aid

Steve Sanford

A blackout caused by an ice storm or blizzard can quickly turn deadly, due to hypothermia or the dangerous mistakes people make while trying to stay warm.

“The cold can make people do things they should know better than to attempt,” says retired Deputy Assistant Chief John Norman, a firefighter for nearly 50 years, including 27 with the New York City Fire Department. “I’ve seen people start a large fire in a bathtub and in metal barrels on wooden floors, which promptly ignite.”

One of the most common hazards is carbon monoxide buildup in homes when people use electricity generators placed too close to the house, Norman notes. A high concentration of the colorless, odorless gas can kill within five minutes.

Save yourself before the blackout …

Stock an emergency box with flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies (including prescription medications), blankets, water and food.
Wrap water pipes with insulation to keep them from freezing, and know how to shut off the main water line in case of a burst pipe.
Fill your tank. Gas pumps run on electricity.
Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work. Install them, if necessary.

During the blackout...

Don’t bake. And never use your stove or oven to heat your home. This can lead to a fire or a buildup of carbon monoxide.
Keep generators away from the house. Aim for at least 20 feet, for safety. Never run a generator in your garage, even with the door open.
Drip it. Allow a trickle of water to run from at least one faucet, to keep the water moving so it won’t freeze and cause the pipes to burst.

CRISIS: There’s a fire in your chimney

a man fleeing from an out of control fire in the fireplace

Steve Sanford

It can sound like a freight train roaring through your living room, or gunshots, popping or crackling. Or you may hear nothing at all, even though there’s a blaze halfway up the inside of your chimney. Walk outside and look up; you’ll likely see dense black smoke billowing unnaturally out of your house.

Save yourself

“Slow-burning, long-lasting chimney fires can generate more than 2,100 degrees of heat,” notes Russ Dimmitt, educational director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Once a chimney fire has started, there’s little you can do besides hustle out of your house and call the fire department. But there are steps you can take to avoid this emergency.

Be prepared

Always use well-seasoned wood. Cooler smoke generated by burning wet wood condenses on chimney walls, leaving a tarlike substance of highly flammable chemicals.
Keep your wood dry. Even seasoned wood left in the rain can have a high moisture content. Check the dryness with a wood moisture tester (about $35).
Use your nose. If you can smell smoke while burning wood or detect a smoky scent coming from your fireplace when it’s not in use, your fireplace isn’t working properly. Have your chimney inspected annually by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep.

CRISIS: You (or someone else) fell through the ice

a man offering a stick for a person to grab onto after they fell through the ice

Steve Sanford

If you see that someone has plunged into a frozen lake or river, don’t rush to the rescue. The last thing you need is to become victim number two, which is what will happen if you run onto the ice. Instead, call 911. Then:

Save yourself

Find a bridge. Look for a long branch or other objects you can extend to the victim, or throw something to use as a float, suggests Jackie Lundstrom of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. In a pinch, have everyone remove their jackets, and tie the arms together to form an impromptu rope.
If you fall through, swim. Don’t try to push yourself up vertically, as you would in a pool. Flutter kick to get your body horizontal, and pull yourself onto the ice like a seal, says Gordon Giesbrecht, director of the Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg.

Be prepared

Never venture onto ice unless you’re sure it’s 4 to 5 or more inches thick. Even when you think it’s thick enough to hold you, anticipate falling through, says Gordon Giesbrecht, and have a plan for how you’ll manage if you do.

CRISIS: You’re caught in a flash flood

a woman standing on top of her car in a flash flood calling on her phone for help

Steve Sanford

The top causes of flood-related drownings are driving into floodwater and walking in or near floodwater. Here’s why: Six inches of running water can knock someone off their feet, 12 inches of running water can move a vehicle, and 2 feet of still water can float a vehicle. If your tailpipe gets submerged, your car will stall. If your battery gets submerged, it will fail in 10 to 15 minutes.

And it’s very difficult to estimate the depth of water, especially at night. “No matter the size and weight of the vehicle, when water gets more than halfway up the tires, you’ve overcommitted,” says Michael Berna, a Maryland-based swift-water trainer for Rescue 3 International. “I’ve seen fire engines float away.”

If the road ahead is submerged, don’t take the risk of trying to forge through. Instead:

Save yourself

Find and stay on high ground. This should always be your first choice.
If your vehicle gets swamped, Berna advises the following: Climb out your window and remain on the roof of the vehicle. If you can’t do that, stay in the vehicle as long as possible. Notify 911 with your location and vehicle description. Lower your windows several inches while you still have battery power, which will make it easier for first responders to break the window, if necessary.
If your car starts to float, or if water fills the passenger area, it’s time to get out and swim for safety as best you can (this is the last resort and the best reason not to be in the flood to begin with).