Severe Weather Alerts: How to Stay Safe This Storm Season

My chaotic relationship with severe weather alerts

Okay y’all, severe weather alerts hit different when you’re an adult who still kinda panics like a little kid when the phone screams at 3 a.m. Last April I was in Tennessee, middle of nowhere, and my phone went full air-raid siren. Tornado warning. Like, RIGHT NOW. And what did I do? I froze. Stared at the wall. Then ran around grabbing random stuff: my laptop, three pairs of socks, the cat (who hates me now), and literally left the pizza in the oven.

So yeah. Severe weather alerts and me? We have history.

But I’ve gotten better. Marginally. And since we’re heading into what feels like storm season 2.0 every year now (thanks climate), here’s my very messy, very human take on how to stay safe during storms when you’re not a meteorologist and your emergency plan is “vibe check the sky.”

What I wish I knew before the 2024 derecho tried to eat my neighborhood

Derechos are sneaky bastards. Straight-line wind storms that sound like freight trains and last forever.

I learned (the hard way) that:

• Severe weather alerts on your phone are great… but the NOAA Weather Radio is still king Seriously. That crackly voice cuts through everything. I bought a cheap one after the 2023 derecho and now I feel slightly less useless. Good starter: Midland WR120 NOAA Weather Alert Radio (affiliate link, I do get a tiny commission if you buy)
• Windows are liars I once taped windows “just in case” like they do in movies. Spoiler: tape does nothing against 90 mph winds. Get actual storm shutters or at least thick plywood if you’re in a high-risk area. I learned this after watching my neighbor’s bay window become modern art.

My actual (imperfect) severe weather alerts survival checklist

Here’s what I keep in the “oh crap” closet now:

1. Water – at least 1 gallon per person per day (I usually have like… 3 bottles and pray)
2. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (see above)
3. Flashlights + extra batteries (I have 7 flashlights because I panic-buy them)
4. Non-perishable snacks (I have way too many Pop-Tarts)
5. First-aid kit (the one I actually opened when I sliced my hand trying to open a can during a blackout – embarrassing)
6. Cash (ATMs die, cards die, vibes die)
7. Copies of important docs in a waterproof bag (learned this one after almost losing my passport in the 2025 flood scare)
8. Blankets + extra clothes (because power goes out and suddenly it’s 48°F inside)

The embarrassing things I’ve done during storm warnings

• Tried to “ride it out” on the porch because “it’s just rain guys” → got hit by a flying trash can lid
• Hid in the bathtub with the cat and my Switch because the closet felt too small
• Texted my mom “if I die it’s because of wind” at 2:17 a.m. (she still brings it up)
• Once ate cold pizza in the dark while listening to tornado sirens like it was ASMR

So yeah. I’m not perfect. But I’m still here. And that’s half the battle with severe weather alerts.

Quick storm safety tips from someone who’s mostly survived

• When they say “take cover now” → don’t negotiate with the sky
• Interior room, lowest level, no windows. Bathroom, closet, hallway. Pick one.
• Helmet. I started wearing a bike helmet during tornado warnings after seeing what flying debris does. Looks dumb. Saves head.
• If you’re in a car and a tornado is coming → abandon vehicle and find a low spot. Ditches > cars.
• After the storm passes → wait for the all-clear. Downed power lines are sneaky silent killers.

Final rambling thoughts

Look, severe weather alerts are scary. They should be. Mother Nature doesn’t negotiate. But the more prepared you are, the less you panic. And the less you panic, the more likely you are to make smart choices instead of, y’know, trying to save a half-eaten pizza.

So this storm season, do me a favor: Grab a decent weather radio, make a stupidly simple go-bag, and maybe don’t text your mom at 2 a.m. unless it’s actually the end times.