How To Prepare Your Workforce for Severe Weather Risks

Spring brings a much-needed change from a long, cold winter and the unforgiving weather conditions that accompany it. But as flowers bloom and temperatures rise, we also prepare for the arrival of severe weather season.

Each year, severe storms cost billions of dollars in damage and impact thousands of lives. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), in 2024 there were 27 confirmed billion-dollar weather disaster events in the U.S., including floods, tornadoes, damaging winds, hail and extreme heat. These destructive events can take an unpredictable toll on workers, causing damages, injuries and even death. In the aftermath of a disaster, businesses may experience losses in productivity, increased absenteeism, lower employee morale and higher turnover.

As a result, companies must proactively do everything they can to protect their employees and their workplaces. But how can we be confident knowing our employees are aware, engaged and prepared to work in the healthiest, safest manner possible?

Creating a Prepared Workforce

As with anything from a health and safety standpoint, awareness and preparation are paramount for protecting workers and creating a safe and healthy workplace. Therefore, it’s imperative for EHS professionals to have an emergency action plan (EAP) that includes knowledge and best practices for various types of applicable weather conditions. If an organization does not include this information in their EAP, it’s essential to have a separate storm preparedness plan to ensure readiness for severe weather events.

Emergency action plans should include the following information:

• Procedures for critical operations during emergencies

• Knowledge of warning systems for all applicable severe weather

• Procedures for addressing on-site hazardous materials

• Details on shelter locations, including emergency escape routes and maps

• Number of and contact lists for all personnel

• Rescue and medical duties

Keep in mind that EAPs may vary based on your organization size, presence of hazardous materials and regulatory body.

Types of Severe Weather

Given the prevalence of various types of storms, it’s important to understand the significance of severe weather and what it entails.

• Hail: Hail forms when raindrops are carried upward by storm updrafts into cold areas of the atmosphere and freeze. Sizes can range from pea- to softball-sized hail and cause more than $1 billion in crop and property damage annually.

• Heat: Extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in the U.S., causing 555 deaths from heat-related conditions in 2023. Heat-related workplace injuries and illnesses contribute to an average of nearly 3,400 cases per year and often result in days away from work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an average of 34 deaths annually from heat exposure.

• Damaging/Straight-Line Winds: Unlike tornadoes, these are powerful wind gusts starting at 58 mph.

• Floods: Flooding is the second deadliest weather hazard in the U.S., often resulting from heavy rainfall, storm surges or rapidly melting snow. Flash floods can develop within minutes, sweeping away vehicles and causing significant structural damage. According to NOAA, floods cause an average of $4.3 billion in damages annually.

• Lightning: According to NOAA, over the last 10 years, 224 fatalities have occurred because of lightning. Additionally, in 2023, the Insurance Information Institute estimated the value of lightning-caused homeowners insurance claims at about $1.3 billion.

• Tornadoes: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a tornado as a violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. These storms can be up to 1 mile wide and produce winds over 200 mph. According to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, there were more than 1,400 confirmed tornadoes in the U.S. in 2024.

• Severe Storms: Severe storms produce wind gusts of at least 58 mph, hail with a diameter of 1 inch or larger, and/or tornadic activity, according to NOAA. Additionally, about 100,000 thunderstorms occur each year in the U.S.

Severe weather outcomes aren't always within our control, but we can control how prepared we are to navigate them. Being aware of hazards before they occur is key to protecting yourself, others and your organization. By planning, empowering and training your workforce, you’re setting up your organization for success during storms. While we can’t eliminate the risk of a storm, proactive measures will help reduce the risk to our most valuable assets—our people.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Software helps organizations stay prepared for various severe weather conditions. For more information and to see how Evotix can help, click below!