General Safety Precautions

• NOAA has put together an office/facility safety checklist, which is available in the Resources section of this article. A few of the tips can be applied at home as well--the major differences being that homes often have a smaller number of people who know the house fairly well, while office buildings and work facilities can have dozens or hundreds of people and entire areas where people never frequent. In either case, keep an eye out for a few potential risks.
  
  Look around your home or office and ask yourself questions: Are the exits clear of loose debris, and are people aware of multiple exit routes? Are there any obvious fire hazards? In the event of a fire, is there an adequate alarm and/or sprinkler system--and does it work? Are there any loose or exposed wires on which people could trip or shock themselves?
  
  

Before the Storm

• When a severe weather watch has been issued, gather your co-workers or family and make sure everyone is aware of the safety plan. Have a complete first aid kit on hand, in case of any injuries. Also check that there is a radio with fresh batteries, as you will need to hear updates on the storm if the power goes out. Watch or listen for National Weather Service reports for any additional information you may need.
  
  

Specific Storm Preparations

• In the event of a severe thunderstorm or hurricane, stay away from all windows. The more wind and rain that pelts down, the more at risk these windows are for breaking. If you have time before the storm hits, consider bracing the windows with either plywood on the outside or masking tape on the inside--broken glass is one of the leading causes of injury during storms.
  
  For tornadoes, you not only want to avoid the windows, you should be as far underground as possible--the basement is very safe. If you get caught out in a car when the storm hits, do not hide under an overpass: Instead of offering protection, this would place you inside a wind-tunnel effect and is far more dangerous than even being exposed.