How to Stay Safe When Severe Weather Strikes in Chicagoland

As the warmer temperatures begin to roll into Chicagoland, it's important to remember the storms and severe weather that also come along during the spring and summer months. While sparse, our climate has been known to produce severe thunderstorms, flooding and tornadoes on occasion.

Here are several ways Springs at Orchard Road and Springs at Weber Road residents can prepare for severe weather:

1. Put Together an Emergency Supply Kit

Your emergency supply kit should include enough food, water and day-to-day supplies to support your household for at least a three-day period. Here are a few items to include in the kit:

• Flashlights
• Battery-powered weather radio with extra batteries
  
• Canned foods and bottled water
• First aid kit
• Utility knife
• Cell phone charger
• Leash and two-week supply of food for pets

As a best practice, you'll want to update your emergency supply kit twice a year. Use daylight savings as a reminder to revisit your kit and discard expired items.

2. Download Weather Apps on Your Smartphone

If you don't own a battery-powered weather radio, a great alternative is to download a weather app on your smartphone. Weather apps have come a long way and include more details than what your local meteorologist is reporting on TV.

• RadarCast Elite gives you access to NOAA radars and satellites for high definition imaging over the previous two hours, and is the only weather app to provide users with a projected radar view one hour into the future.
• Weather Underground is another app that uses NEXRAD's radar data to provide a comprehensive view of the weather. The information reported on this app will be similar to the weather forecast from your local TV station.

3. Identify a Safe Room Within Your Apartment

If you live in an apartment home in the upper level of a building, make it a priority to get to the lowest level of the building when a storm is approaching. A hallway or a neighbor's first-floor apartment is a good place to hide out during a storm.

Choose a closet, bathroom or interior hall that is free of windows as your safe room. Once in the safe room, get on the floor and cover yourself with pillows and blankets to protect yourself from potential debris. For added protection, consider wearing a bicycle helmet. Keep your emergency kit within close proximity to your safe room for easy access if needed.  

4. Identify Your Local Weather Service

The nearest National Weather Service office for our Springs Chicagoland residents is in Romeoville, and the forecast office maintains a website with local weather news.

To reduce your risk of injury during a storm, it's important to be proactive and follow these guidelines to help you best prepare for severe weather.

Do you have any additional severe weather safety tips? Be sure to share them with us in the comments section below.