A devastating outbreak of tornadoes struck the central United States Friday, including a large tornado that carved through neighborhoods in St. Louis and a deadly nighttime tornado in southeastern Kentucky. Dozens of lives were lost across several states, thousands of structures were damaged, and power outages spread across the region as the storms shredded distribution networks.

Warnings Are Not Optional

Some of Friday’s worst tolls came where warnings did not reach people in time. Every household needs multiple, redundant ways to receive tornado warnings, including a NOAA weather radio with battery backup, and a plan for shelter that does not depend on the power being on.

Preparing for Possible Impacts

• Inspect your standby generator and ensure it is ready to activate automatically if power is lost.
• Run a test cycle to confirm your system starts and transfers power properly.
• Plan for fuel supply and make sure natural gas or propane systems are fully connected and serviced.
• Consider an upgrade. Whole-home backup solutions from Generac and Kohler keep phones charged, medical devices running, and warnings flowing when the grid goes down.

Stay Informed

Severe weather season is at its peak. Check the Storm Prediction Center outlook daily and test your warning devices this week.