Severe weather can strike fast
Parkland officials say preparation is key this spring
In Texas, severe weather can turn an ordinary spring afternoon into a life-threatening emergency in minutes. One moment the skies are calm — the next, sirens are sounding, hail is falling and tornado warnings are flashing across cell phones. Parkland Health disaster preparedness officials say the difference between chaos and confidence often comes down to one thing: preparation.
Texas consistently leads the nation in severe weather events. According to the National Weather Service, Texas averages more tornadoes annually than any other state — often exceeding 130 tornadoes per year. In 2023 alone, Texas recorded more than 120 confirmed tornadoes, along with hundreds of severe thunderstorm and large hail reports. North Texas remains particularly vulnerable during the peak spring months of March through May.
Parkland’s disaster preparedness officials are reminding residents that awareness and preparation are critical long before dark clouds appear on the horizon.
“Severe weather in Texas is not a matter of if — it’s a matter of when,” said Chris Noah, MS, CHSP, cABCF, Parkland’s Director of Disaster Management and Business Continuity. “Storms can strengthen rapidly and change direction with little notice. The decisions you make in those first few minutes can make all the difference.”
Noah emphasizes that having a plan is important but practicing it is what truly prepares families to respond calmly and effectively.
“You could be at home, at work, picking up your kids from school or shopping when a warning is issued,” he said. “If you’ve already thought through what you’re going to do and where you’re going to go, you eliminate hesitation. That preparation can save precious seconds.”
Part of that preparation means not relying on a single method for receiving warnings. Outdoor sirens are designed primarily to alert people who are outside and may not be loud enough to wake you at night or be heard indoors. Instead, officials recommend enabling wireless emergency alerts on smartphones, downloading trusted local media weather apps, programming alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS), and keeping a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio in both the home and workplace.
“These alerts can give you those critical extra minutes to seek shelter,” Noah said. “Every household should have more than one reliable way to receive warnings. Redundancy is key.”
When a tornado warning is issued, knowing exactly where to go is crucial. The safest place during a tornado is an approved underground storm shelter or a certified above-ground safe room. If neither is available, take shelter on the lowest floor of a sturdy building in an interior room such as a closet, hallway or bathroom away from windows. Get low and protect your head and neck with blankets, pillows or a mattress.
If you are driving when a tornado warning is issued, do not seek shelter under a highway overpass. While it may appear to provide protection, overpasses can create a wind tunnel effect that increases wind speeds and flying debris. Stopping beneath them also blocks traffic and prevents others from escaping the storm’s path.
“Overpasses are not safe shelters,” Noah said. “They put you and others at greater risk.” Instead, officials recommend leaving your vehicle for a sturdy building if one is nearby. If no shelter is available, lie flat in a low-lying ditch or depression and cover your head and neck.
If you are in a mobile home, leave immediately for more substantial shelter.
Even after the winds subside, danger can remain. Downed power lines, debris, flash flooding and blocked roads can create hazardous conditions and disrupt cellular service. Texas routinely leads the country in large hail events, with some storms producing hailstones larger than baseballs capable of shattering windows and causing serious injury. Straight-line winds exceeding 70 miles per hour can cause damage similar to weak tornadoes.
That’s why preparedness extends beyond the moment of impact. Families should establish a predetermined meeting location, identify multiple routes to reach that location and keep emergency supplies accessible, including water, flashlights, batteries and first aid materials. Checking on neighbors, particularly older adults or those with limited mobility, is also encouraged once it is safe to do so.
“When storms separate families, fear and confusion can set in quickly,” Noah said. “But when everyone knows the plan — from young children to older adults — it reduces panic and increases your ability to respond safely.”
Severe weather can strike at any time of year in Texas, but spring historically brings heightened risk. Disaster preparedness experts encourage residents not to become complacent simply because a storm appears distant.
“Preparedness isn’t something you do once and forget about,” Noah added. “It’s something you revisit each season. The best time to prepare is before the sky turns dark. When a warning is issued, that’s the time to act — not the time to start planning.”
For more information about Parkland Health, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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