Preparation Articles

If you watch the weather, you’re probably wondering two things right now: Is 2026 going to be a bad tornado year?Do businesses really need a shelter now, or can this wait? The answer to these questions boils down to three forces converging at once: a sharper understanding of shifting tornado risk, code and standard updates that create…

What Makes A Home Storm-Ready? A storm-ready home resists wind uplift at the roof, keeps cladding and soffits tight, moves water off the walls and away from the foundation, manages moisture in the lowest level, and aligns with known flood risk from FEMA or local maps. If any one of those pieces looks weak, the…

When is tornado season? You want a concise answer so you can plan weekends, set alerts, and stop worrying. But, unfortunately, it’s tricky, and something about the old answer no longer holds true. The old “spring-only” mental model misses too many real risks, including the kind of late night twister that arrives when no one…

Most successful community shelter projects integrate three streams—grants, financing, and local contributions—into a single budget. The reason? Federal mitigation grants rarely cover 100 percent. Loans and bonds cover gaps and timing. Local dollars can unlock the grant match and keep the project moving, so you aren’t waiting through another storm season while paperwork sits on…

Looking for a family tornado safety plan your kids can actually follow without spending all weekend on it? The goal is simple: when the threat of a tornado or severe thunderstorm looms, every family member knows where to go, what to grab, and how to communicate. There should be no debates, no scrambling, and no…

You want to know what tornado shelter liability for businesses really looks like–because leadership, insurers, or maybe even your gut is asking if the risk is worth the cost. What are your obligations? The short version: liability from tornadoes, or other severe weather events, flows through three channels: OSHA enforcement, employee injury systems, and civil…

Absolute protection means thinking about those who need it most.Why the Most Vulnerable Deserve Careful Planning for Tornado SafetyTornadoes are among the most unpredictable natural disasters. And, as with other disasters, tornado preparedness isn’t just about having flashlights and bottled water. Families often only have minutes after a tornado warning or sirens sound to get…

What Civic Leaders Should Know About FEMA P-361 & ICC-500 StandardsEF5 tornadoes, with wind speeds exceeding 250 mph, are rare but devastating. As nature’s most violent storms, they represent a disproportionate share of tornado-related deaths and are capable of flattening entire neighborhoods. While no structure is fully tornado-proof, community storm shelters designed and installed to…

Why Most Parents Aren’t Ready for Tornado SeasonIf you’re a parent, you’ve likely done some storm prep. You’ve gathered flashlights, stocked bottled water, maybe even stashed a few granola bars. That’s a good start, but is it enough?According to FEMA’s 2020 preparedness survey, 81% of Americans say they’ve gathered emergency supplies, and 65% have sought…

Why Community Shelter Sizing Matters More Than You Think The size of a community shelter can be a matter of life and death during severe weather events. Overcrowded shelters have led to dangerous conditions. During recent tornado outbreaks, some shelters reported turning away dozens of people due to a lack of space, forcing families to…

Why Tornado Shelters Are More Than a Legal RequirementTornado shelters in schools aren’t just about checking a legal box; they are a life-or-death safeguard for students, staff, and the wider community. The U.S. experiences around 1,000 tornadoes each year, the highest frequency globally, resulting in hundreds of injuries and dozens of fatalities. In 2024 alone, tornadoes injured…

Think Tornado Season Ends in Spring? Think Again.For many homeowners, tornado season feels like a springtime concern, something that peaks between March and June and then fades away with the heat of summer. Late summer tornadoes are not a fluke, they’re part of the normal seasonal shift. Waiting until next spring to prepare may be…