Spring severe weather season is arriving for much of the United States. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above-average temperatures across the country this spring, as well as above-average precipitation in the central and eastern United States.
Tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods – nature will continue outdoors, as we respond to, and plan for, the health concerns inside.
The good news is that planning now can make for a safer weather season for you and your family. With many shelter-in-place orders in effect and people and families at home, it is the perfect time to: become educated on severe weather signs and response, put a household plan together, run through drills, and more.
There are many sources of information out there to help educate you and your family members. We recommend the following to learn more about the details of severe weather.
Key Resources
- The National Severe Storms Laboratory – Check out the Education Page for 101 material and education modules for students to learn about weather and safety tips.
- The National Weather Service Safety Overviews and Children’s Education Page – Owlie the Owl
- Make your Plan – Ready.gov’s Emergency Planning Resources
What to Watch Out For
Thunderstorms, Lightning, Wind, and Hail: April showers tend to bring a lot more than flowers each year to much of the U.S. According to The National Severe Storms Laboratory, there are about 100,000 thunderstorms each year in the U.S. alone, and around 10 percent reach severe levels. These most likely take place in the spring and summer but can happen year-round. As you know, thunderstorms can also spur lightning, wind, hail, and flooding along with them. Check out each link for the full download.
Floods: The National Severe Storms Laboratory has a dedicated section to flood basics, which states that “flooding occurs in every U.S. state and territory, and is a threat experienced anywhere in the world that receives rain. In the U.S. floods kill more people each year than tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning.”
Tornadoes: According to The National Severe Storms Laboratory about 1,200 tornadoes hit the U.S. yearly, and via Ohio.gov’s Severe Weather Center, the state of Ohio saw a near record 49 tornadoes in 2019. Tornado season in the U.S. runs from May through July primarily.
Hurricanes: According to The National Hurricane Center, hurricane season runs from June 1- Nov. 30 each year and spring is the time to learn and prepare. The Center also shares that over a typical two-year period, the U.S. coastline is struck by an average of three hurricanes, with one of which gets classified. as a major hurricane (winds of 111 mph or greater). Check out more from Oswald Personal Client Management in the article, Hurricane Season: Preparation and Contingency
Creating a Plan
View our previous post for links and resources Emergency Preparedness for You and Your Family. While insurance can lower or eliminate the financial impact of these disasters, planning in advance can help respond to the events and minimize the impact disasters have on your family while expediting recovery.
For information on flood insurance, visit FloodSmart.gov and more on Water damage exposures guidance from Oswald Companies.
Our client’s personal safety is of our utmost concern and the personal risk advisors at Oswald would like to provide you with resources to help you protect our clients and their families. In addition to contacting your carrier directly in the event of a claim, please contact your client management team to assist.
For more information, contact us here.
This post was originally published in March 2020; updated March 2023.
Note: This communication is for informational purposes only. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Oswald makes no guarantees of any kind and cannot be held liable for any outdated or incorrect information. View our communications policy.