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Annual Weather Safety Planning

Weather hazards change with the seasons. A yearly review keeps the plan current and makes sure everyone knows their role before the first storm.

Why plan by season?

Each season brings different risks: floods and tornadoes in some regions in spring, heat, storms and wildfire smoke in summer, fog and early frost in fall, and ice and cold in winter. Your local hazards depend on where you farm, so ask your National Weather Service office and county emergency management office what is typical for your area.

A calendar that matches tasks to seasons spreads work out, so it does not all fall in the busiest weeks.

Write down the hazards you faced last year, including near misses. A list like that is the best starting point for this year's plan. Winter planning is often overlooked. Cold snaps, ice and power outages affect water for animals, heating and travel, so ask your local weather office and extension office what to prepare for before the first hard freeze.

• Spring: flood and storm prep
• Summer: heat, lightning and smoke
• Fall: fog, wind and fire danger
• Winter: ice, cold and power outages

What should the yearly review include?

Go through each hazard you face and ask: who watches for it, what alerts do we use, where do people go and what work stops? Review shelter locations, routes, contact lists, emergency numbers and the farm address for 911. Check that all alert systems work.

Add changes in the year: new buildings, new fields, new staff, new equipment. Plans age quickly when the farm changes.

Walk the farm with the plan in hand, and look for places where the plan does not match reality, such as a blocked exit or a shelter used for storage. Plan around key dates on your own calendar: planting, haying, harvest and calving or lambing. Ask what weather would stop each of them, and who would decide. A plan tied to real work is more likely to be followed.

• Hazards and alerts
• Shelters and routes
• Contacts and farm address
• Changes since last year

How do you involve everyone?

Hold a meeting at the start of each season with family and workers. Walk through the plan, ask for questions and assign tasks. Include seasonal and part-time workers, and brief them on day one. Provide material in languages workers understand.

Ask workers what they have seen. They often notice hazards that owners miss.

Give each person a role that matches their abilities, including children, who may be able to help with simple tasks such as checking batteries.

What about supplies and equipment?

Check emergency kits, first aid supplies, flashlights, radios, batteries, fire extinguishers and backup power equipment each season. Replace what is expired or worn out. Follow manufacturer manuals for generators and heaters, and ask a qualified professional about installation.

See the American Red Cross for kit checklists and the NFPA for fire safety information.

Fuel, water and food stocks for a multi-day outage are part of planning. Ask the Red Cross and your emergency office how much and what kinds to keep, and rotate them each season.

How do training and drills fit in?

Plan first aid and CPR training with a recognized provider, and drills for shelter, evacuation and fire. Ask your local fire department, Red Cross chapter or extension office about classes. Hands-on training is the right way to learn emergency skills.

Practice drills at different times and under different conditions. Time them and fix what slows people down.

Include mental well-being in the plan. After a hard season, talk with family and workers. In the US, people can call or text 988 for support, and call 911 in an emergency.

How do you keep the plan alive?

Write it down, keep it short, post it, and review it after every major event. Assign one person to own the plan, and set reminders on the calendar. Share copies with neighbors and, if appropriate, local emergency management.

A good plan is one that people actually use. Simplify it if they do not.

Record the date of each review on the plan. Anyone can see at a glance when it was last updated.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.