A hail storm can be an extremely dangerous weather condition, especially if you are driving or standing outside in the middle of it. While there’s no way to predict where these storms will happen, there are some ways to make sure you and your family stay safe when they do occur. This guide on hail storm safety will help you ensure that you, your loved ones, and your property are protected as much as possible during this potentially destructive event.
1) Stay inside
The best way to stay safe during a hail storm is to stay inside. If you can, find a room in your house that doesn’t have any windows, or go to the basement. If you can’t get inside, try to find some kind of shelter, like under a tree or in a car. Your best bet is to not be out on the street at all, but if you’re caught outside and can’t find cover then make sure to take cover in a small space between two cars, or put your back against a building and crouch down. And never lie flat on the ground!
2) Turn off all outside lights
One of the best things you can do to stay safe during a hail storm is to turn off all of your outside lights. This includes any spotlights or floodlights you may have on your property. By doing this, you eliminate the risk of one of these lights being struck by hail and causing an electrical fire.
It’s also important to make sure that no outdoor furniture has been left out for too long before the storm hits. If it has been left out for a while then put it inside before the hail starts flying around!
3) Fasten down your yard
Before a hail storm hits, make sure to secure any loose items in your yard. This includes things like patio furniture, grills, and lawn decorations. If possible, bring these items inside your home or garage. If you can’t move them, be sure to anchor them down so they don’t become projectiles during the storm. In the event that there may be heavy hail, cover up anything of value in your yard with a tarp or other protective material. Be careful when doing this not to tear holes in the fabric. Be sure to protect all electrical or glass/plastic components as well.
4) Go inside the bathroom
The bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house, which means there are fewer windows for large hail to come through. Plus, the tile floor and tub can provide extra protection from any hail that does make it inside. So, if you’re caught in a storm, head to the bathroom and close the door until it passes. You may want to take your phone with you so that you can call emergency services if necessary.
5) Move away from windows
This one is obvious, but needs to be said. As soon as you hear the telltale sound of hail hitting your windows, it’s time to move away from them. Find an interior room on the lowest level of your home and take shelter there. If you have small children or pets with you, make sure they’re also safely out of harm’s way. Head to the basement if you can; in some cases, staying in an upper story room might be safer than trying to go downstairs when high winds are blowing large pieces of ice around outside. Avoid touching anything that’s been hit by hail: Even if it doesn’t look like any chunks were broken off, avoid touching anything that has been hit by hail for safety reasons. You could end up with shards of ice stuck in your skin! Monitor what’s happening outside: It can be tempting to head upstairs after being cooped up inside for a while during a storm – we all want to see what the damage looks like! However, this can lead people into danger, as walking around under hailstones may not seem like such a big deal until something bad happens.
6) Don’t use electrical equipment
Hail storms can cause power surges that damage or destroy electrical equipment. If you must use electrical equipment, unplug it and move it away from windows. Avoid using the phone during a hail storm, as lightning can travel through telephone lines and injure you. For the same reason, stay away from metal objects such as poles, fences, pipes and any other metal items outside. You should also avoid going outside since your risk of being hit by lightning is increased during this time. If you do go outside, cover yourself with a coat, blanket or poncho to reduce your risk of getting injured by lightning.
7) Expect damage and prepare for it
Hail storms can cause significant damage to your home, business, or car. If hail is expected, you can expect damage to occur. Taking some of the precautions above will help reduce the amount of damage from hail. Be aware that with heavy hailstorms and high winds, roof shingles may be blown off and wind could carry them for miles in all directions. Roof shingles can cover sidewalks, parking lots, yards and gardens. So it’s important to clear out walkways as soon as possible so pedestrians are not at risk of slipping on the tiles. The siding of your home can also be heavily damaged by hail. While it’s often hard to anticipate a hail storm or the damage from them, if you are in an area that has a lot of storms, you can look into siding products like LP® SmartSide® hail resistant siding.
Park your vehicles inside a garage. If you do not have a garage or are away from home, try to get your vehicle under the cover of trees. While you should never be under a tree, outside of the vehicle in a storm, the tree can help reduce the amount of damage to a vehicle and also provides grounding in the event of a lightening strike.
Another concern after a hailstorm is falling tree branches that have been weakened by being beaten by rain and hail during the storm. These trees may need immediate attention to prevent any further damage or injury from occurring.
