Responding to a Storm Watch vs. a Storm Warning | SERVPRO® of East Lansing/Haslett

6/9/2022 (Permalink)

If severe weather has damaged your home or business, call SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett today!

Any time severe weather becomes a threat, it is important to be prepared for all the possibilities
it brings. Heavy rains, strong winds, hail, flash floods and tornado threats are all common during
bouts of severe weather, and all of these things can cause damage in addition to increasing the
risk of injury or fatalities.

If severe weather is possible, staying aware of local officials’ weather updates is key, as is
knowing how to respond to them. Understanding alert systems, such as watches, warnings and
emergency sirens for your area, can help you make smart decisions about how to respond and
stay safe when the weather turns nasty.

Understanding a Severe Weather Watch vs. a Severe Weather Warning

A severe weather watch will be issued when conditions are favorable for the severe weather
event to occur. For example, a flash flood watch may be issued during periods of heavy rain, while a tornado watch may be issued when conditions look like those that are often related to tornadoes forming.

A severe weather warning is issued when the event is actively happening—so if flooding is
reported, or if a tornado is spotted on radar or on the ground, a watch would be issued for these
events.

Reacting to a Severe Weather Watch vs. a Severe Weather Warning

Because a severe weather warning means that conditions are favorable but the event is not
actively occurring, a warning being issued is your sign to stay vigilant. Tune into local broadcasts for updates and stay close to a safe area in case you quickly need to take shelter from whatever event is at hand.

When a severe weather warning is issued, that means to seek safe shelter immediately. For a
tornado, this would mean to get to your emergency shelter area. For a flood, this would mean to move immediately to higher ground.

Because time is extremely limited in these situations, it is important that you do not wait until after a watch is issued to plan what you should do—instead, have your safety plan mapped out well in advance so you can quickly take cover when and if necessary.

If you experience damage from severe weather, we are the team you can count on for restoration. We are here 24/7 to respond quickly. Contact us today.