Thunderstorm Safety ⛈️
Thunderstorms are common across Canada in spring, summer, and fall, especially in humid regions—but they can occur almost anywhere. They bring risks like lightning strikes, heavy rain, flash flooding, damaging winds, and power outages.
This guide summarizes key safety steps from the Canadian Red Cross so you and your family can prepare, respond, and recover more safely when severe weather hits.
Before the Storm: Prepare Now
1. Make an Emergency Plan
The best protection is preparation. Create a household emergency plan that covers:
- Where to take shelter in your home
- How your family will communicate if separated
- What to do during power outages or evacuations
2. Build a 72-Hour Emergency Kit
Families should be ready to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Include:
- Drinking water and non-perishable food
- Flashlight, batteries, and a battery-powered radio
- First aid supplies, medications, and copies of important documents
- Cash, phone chargers, and comfort items
- Special items for babies, seniors, pets, or medical needs
3. Monitor Weather Warnings
Follow local news and check Environment Canada for thunderstorm maps and alerts. Know the difference between:
- Severe thunderstorm watch: Conditions are favourable for severe storms (large hail, heavy rain, intense lightning, damaging winds).
- Severe thunderstorm warning: A storm is occurring or imminent and may produce those hazards; tornadoes can also develop in severe thunderstorm environments.
4. Reduce Hazards Around Your Home
- Trim trees and shrubs to make them more wind-resistant; remove damaged branches.
- Review how you'll handle power outages (flashlights, backup charging, food that doesn't need cooking).
During the Storm: Get to Safety
If You're Indoors 🏠
- When thunder roars, go indoors and stay there.
- Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
- If you live in an apartment, go to a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest floor during a severe storm.
- Avoid electrical equipment, corded phones, and plumbing (no baths, showers, or dishwashing). Use battery-powered devices instead.
- Remain inside for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
If You're Outdoors
- Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely. Many lightning victims are not in the area where rain is falling.
- If there are fewer than 30 seconds between lightning and thunder, seek shelter immediately.
- Avoid sheltering under trees, posts, fences, or equipment—they can attract lightning.
- In an open field with no shelter: do not lie flat. Kneel on the ground with your feet together, hands on your knees, and body bent forward. Seek a vehicle if possible.
- Stay away from water (lakes, rivers, creeks, boats). Water conducts electricity and flood waters can rise quickly.
If You're in a Vehicle🚗
- Pull over to a safe location, park, and stay in the car with your emergency flashers on until heavy rain subsides.
- Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity inside or outside the vehicle.
- Do not drive through flooded roads—"Turn around, don't drown."
After the Storm: Stay Cautious
If Someone Is Struck by Lightning ⚡
- Call 911 immediately.
- Check the area for dangers like live wires, broken glass, or debris.
- If the person isn't breathing, start CPR if you're trained. If they are breathing, check for burns and other injuries. Use personal protective equipment if there's any risk of exposure to infectious disease; chest-compression-only CPR is an option when needed.
General Safety After the Storm
- Continue listening to local news and weather reports; follow directions from authorities.
- Avoid driving or walking through flooded areas—they may be deeper and more dangerous than they appear.
- Stay away from fallen power lines and report them immediately.
- Keep children and pets away from flooded waterways and storm debris.
- If you used items from your emergency kit, replenish them as soon as it's safe to do so, following local public health guidance.
How Urban Go Prep Can Help
Having the right supplies on hand makes it easier to follow these safety steps. At Urban Go Prep, we offer ready-to-go emergency kits and build-your-own options so you can customize for your household's needs—whether that's medications, baby supplies, pet food, or extra power and light sources.
Use this Red Cross guidance as a checklist when assembling or refreshing your kit, and keep your plan somewhere easy to grab when a warning is issued.
Source: Information adapted from the Canadian Red Cross thunderstorm safety guidance and Environment Canada weather warnings.
