6 Hands-On Activities for Preparing for Extreme Weather That Build Real-World Skills

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, making emergency preparedness a critical skill for every household. You can’t control when disaster strikes, but you can control how ready you’ll be when it does. These six practical activities will help you build confidence and competence in weathering any storm that comes your way.

Create an Emergency Kit With Essential Supplies

Building a comprehensive emergency kit transforms your disaster preparedness from wishful thinking into concrete action. You’ll need to assemble supplies that can sustain your family for at least 72 hours without external assistance.

Gather Food and Water for 72 Hours

Stock one gallon of water per person per day for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene needs. Choose non-perishable foods like canned goods, energy bars, dried fruits, and nuts that require no cooking or refrigeration. Include a manual can opener, disposable plates, and utensils to ensure you can access and consume your emergency food supplies when power fails.

Assemble First Aid and Medical Supplies

Pack a comprehensive first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and prescription medications your family needs. Include thermometers, tweezers, medical tape, and gauze pads for treating injuries. Don’t forget copies of medical information, insurance cards, and emergency contact numbers in waterproof containers to ensure quick access during stressful situations.

Include Important Documents and Cash

Store copies of identification documents, insurance policies, bank records, and medical information in waterproof bags or containers. Keep small bills and coins on hand since ATMs and credit card systems often fail during emergencies. Place these items in an easily accessible location within your emergency kit so you can grab them quickly if evacuation becomes necessary.

Practice Family Emergency Communication Plans

Communication becomes critical when extreme weather strikes and standard systems fail. You’ll need reliable ways to connect with family members who might be separated during an emergency.

Establish Out-of-State Contact Person

Choose a relative or friend living at least 100 miles away to serve as your family’s central communication hub. Out-of-state phone lines often remain operational when local networks fail during disasters. Share this contact’s information with every family member and ensure they know to call this person first. Program the number into everyone’s phones and write it on cards they can carry in wallets or backpacks.

Create Meeting Points and Evacuation Routes

Designate two specific meeting locations: one near your home for sudden emergencies and another outside your neighborhood for larger-scale evacuations. Walk these routes with your family and identify alternative paths in case primary roads become impassable. Practice driving evacuation routes during different times of day to understand traffic patterns. Map out multiple exit strategies from your area and keep printed copies in your car and emergency kit.

Test Communication Methods and Backup Options

Schedule monthly tests of your family’s communication plan to identify weak points before disasters strike. Practice using text messages, social media, and email as alternatives when phone calls don’t connect. Download emergency communication apps that work offline and ensure everyone knows how to use them. Keep battery-powered or hand-crank radios in your emergency kit and test them regularly to receive weather updates and emergency broadcasts.

Conduct Home Safety Inspections and Improvements

A proactive home inspection identifies vulnerabilities before extreme weather strikes. You’ll strengthen your property’s defenses and protect your family by addressing potential hazards systematically.

Secure Outdoor Items and Reinforce Windows

Remove or anchor all patio furniture, grills, and decorative items that could become projectiles during high winds. Store lightweight objects like planters and outdoor cushions in your garage or basement.

Install storm shutters or board up windows with plywood to prevent glass breakage from flying debris. Apply protective film to interior glass surfaces as an additional safety measure. Trim tree branches within 10 feet of your home to reduce the risk of impact damage.

Check Roof, Gutters, and Drainage Systems

Inspect your roof for loose or missing shingles that could allow water infiltration during heavy storms. Replace damaged materials and ensure flashing around chimneys and vents remains secure.

Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent water backup that leads to foundation flooding. Install gutter guards to reduce debris accumulation. Check that water flows away from your foundation by ensuring proper grading around your home’s perimeter.

Install Safety Equipment and Warning Devices

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and replace batteries twice yearly when daylight saving time changes. Install backup power sources like battery-operated or hand-crank emergency radios.

Mount surge protectors on electrical panels to safeguard appliances during power fluctuations. Consider installing a whole-house generator with automatic transfer switch for extended outages. Keep fire extinguishers accessible on each floor and ensure family members know their locations.

Simulate Weather-Specific Emergency Scenarios

Realistic practice scenarios help your family respond instinctively when actual emergencies strike. Running through specific weather-related drills builds muscle memory and reduces panic during real disasters.

Practice Tornado Shelter Drills

Designate your tornado shelter location in the lowest floor of your home, away from windows and exterior walls. Practice the “duck and cover” position with your family, crouching low and protecting your head and neck with your arms.

Time your shelter drills to ensure everyone can reach the designated area within 30 seconds. Practice moving quickly but safely, especially during nighttime scenarios when visibility is limited. Keep emergency supplies like flashlights and a battery-powered weather radio in your shelter area.

Rehearse Hurricane Evacuation Procedures

Map out your evacuation route and practice driving it during different times of day to identify potential traffic bottlenecks. Load your car with emergency supplies and practice securing your home within a specific timeframe.

Simulate the decision-making process by monitoring weather reports and discussing when to leave based on evacuation zone classifications. Practice communicating with family members about departure times and meeting locations if you become separated during the evacuation process.

Execute Winter Storm Power Outage Scenarios

Turn off your main power breaker for 4-6 hours to experience life without electricity during cold weather. Practice using alternative heating methods safely, cooking without electric appliances, and conserving body heat through layering and shared warmth.

Test your backup systems including battery-powered radios, flashlights, and portable phone chargers. Practice melting snow for water if pipes freeze and learn to recognize signs of carbon monoxide buildup from improper heating methods.

Build Weather Monitoring and Alert Systems

Creating a comprehensive weather monitoring system gives you critical advance notice of approaching severe weather. Multiple data sources and early warning networks help you make informed decisions about when to take protective action.

Set Up Multiple Weather Alert Sources

Download weather apps like Weather Underground, NOAA Weather Radar, and AccuWeather to receive push notifications for severe weather warnings. Enable location-based alerts on your smartphone to get targeted warnings for your specific area.

Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology. Program it with your county’s alert codes to receive automatic broadcasts for tornadoes, flash floods, and other emergencies even when cell towers fail.

Follow local meteorologists on social media platforms and sign up for emergency management alerts from your county. Many experienced forecasters provide detailed analysis and earlier warnings than standard weather services during rapidly developing situations.

Create Early Warning Notification Network

Establish a neighborhood watch group that shares weather information through text chains or messaging apps. Designate two people to monitor different weather sources and alert the group when severe conditions approach.

Connect with family and friends in surrounding areas who can provide real-time updates about weather conditions moving toward your location. People 30-50 miles away often experience storms 2-4 hours before they reach you.

Join local emergency preparedness groups on Facebook or Nextdoor that share weather updates and damage reports. These communities often provide hyperlocal information about road conditions, power outages, and shelter availability during severe events.

Install Weather Monitoring Equipment

Set up a basic weather station with outdoor temperature sensors, rain gauges, and wind speed indicators. Digital stations with wireless connectivity send data directly to your smartphone and help you track changing conditions in real-time.

Install a lightning detector that alerts you to electrical activity within 20-40 miles of your location. These devices provide 15-30 minutes of advance warning before thunderstorms arrive at your property.

Mount a wind gauge in an open area away from buildings and trees to monitor sustained winds and gusts. When readings consistently exceed 25 mph, it’s time to secure outdoor items and prepare for potential power outages or structural damage.

Develop Community Preparedness Networks

Building connections with your neighbors transforms individual preparedness into collective resilience. You’ll discover that shared resources and coordinated response plans create stronger safety nets than any household can build alone.

Connect With Neighbors and Local Groups

Introduce yourself to neighbors within a three-block radius and exchange contact information for emergency situations. Join local Facebook groups or neighborhood apps like Nextdoor to stay informed about weather threats and community response efforts. Attend town hall meetings and connect with local emergency management officials who can provide valuable insights about your area’s specific weather risks. Participate in community events like block parties or farmers markets to build relationships with people who live nearby. Contact your local Red Cross chapter or community emergency response team to learn about existing preparedness programs and volunteer opportunities.

Organize Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams

Form a neighborhood response group of 8-12 households with diverse skills like medical training, construction experience, or communication expertise. Assign specific roles such as medical coordinator, communication leader, and resource manager to ensure organized response during emergencies. Create a neighborhood emergency contact list that includes everyone’s phone numbers, special needs, and available resources like generators or medical supplies. Establish regular meeting schedules every three months to review plans, update contact information, and practice emergency procedures together. Designate a central meeting location like a community center or school where neighbors can gather during extended power outages or evacuations.

Share Resources and Skills Training

Organize monthly skill-sharing workshops where neighbors teach each other valuable emergency skills like basic first aid, CPR, or emergency cooking techniques. Create a shared resource inventory listing who has generators, chainsaws, medical supplies, or other emergency equipment that could help multiple families. Establish a neighborhood tool library where families can borrow emergency supplies they don’t own, reducing individual costs while increasing overall preparedness. Host group purchasing sessions for bulk emergency supplies like water barrels, batteries, or non-perishable foods to reduce costs for everyone. Schedule regular training exercises with local firefighters or EMTs who can teach proper emergency response techniques specific to your area’s weather risks.

Conclusion

Taking action now transforms your family from vulnerable to resilient when extreme weather strikes. These six hands-on activities aren’t just preparedness tasks—they’re investments in your peace of mind and your loved ones’ safety.

Remember that preparedness isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing commitment. Regular practice and updates to your plans ensure you’ll respond confidently rather than frantically when severe weather threatens your area.

Start with one activity this week and gradually build your preparedness foundation. Your future self will thank you for taking these proactive steps today rather than waiting until warning sirens are already sounding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I include in a 72-hour emergency kit?

Your emergency kit should contain one gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable foods like canned goods and energy bars, a first aid kit with medical supplies, copies of important documents in waterproof containers, and cash in small bills. These essentials will help sustain your family for at least 72 hours without external assistance during emergencies.

How do I create an effective family communication plan?

Establish an out-of-state contact person as your communication hub since out-of-state phone lines often work during local emergencies. Designate specific meeting points and evacuation routes, then practice these regularly. Test various communication methods including text messages, social media, and emergency apps to ensure everyone knows how to stay connected during a crisis.

What home safety preparations should I make before extreme weather?

Conduct regular home inspections to identify vulnerabilities. Secure outdoor items that could become projectiles, reinforce windows with storm shutters or plywood, inspect your roof for loose shingles, and clean gutters to prevent flooding. Install safety equipment like smoke detectors, surge protectors, and backup power sources to protect your home and family.

Why should I practice weather-specific emergency drills?

Regular drills build muscle memory and reduce panic during actual emergencies. Practice tornado shelter drills using the “duck and cover” position, rehearse hurricane evacuation routes and timing, and simulate power outages to test backup systems. These realistic scenarios help your family respond instinctively and confidently when disaster strikes.

How can I stay informed about severe weather threats?

Download weather apps for real-time alerts, purchase a NOAA Weather Radio for automatic broadcasts, and follow local meteorologists on social media. Consider installing basic weather monitoring equipment like weather stations and lightning detectors. Building a neighborhood watch group for sharing weather information also enhances your early warning capabilities.

What are the benefits of community emergency preparedness?

Community preparedness transforms individual efforts into collective resilience. By building relationships with neighbors, organizing emergency response teams, and sharing resources, you create stronger safety nets. Participating in skill-sharing workshops for first aid and emergency response techniques enhances overall neighborhood readiness and improves everyone’s chances during extreme weather events.