Winds: What You Need To Do Before They Hit
It’s all about winds and what to do before they hit. I’m sitting here watching the news and remembering the windstorms we lived through in Farmington, Utah, many years ago. The strong wind gusts have been recorded at anywhere from 70 to 80 miles per hour in northern Utah over the past week.
The year we moved into our home in Farmington was 1983, and the winds were so strong that they flipped trains on their sides out near the Great Salt Lake. High-profile vehicle warnings were sent by the National Weather Service, and dozens of semi trucks were parked under the freeway overpasses. In case you missed this post, Things to Stock Up On Before a Hurricane
Yes, the truckers had to pull over and park, hopefully under an overpass, to protect their trucks from the high winds. Thank goodness for high wind warnings! Currently, the report is a record for Utah, with 45 semi-trucks blown over. Some years, we had those heavy-duty freeway signs bent in half. Oh my goodness, the sounds of the wind are scary.
We lived in a rambler (a one-story home), so the sound wasn’t as bad. But we also lived in a two-story home, and I swear, it felt like the wind would take the top off our house.

Winds: What You Need To Do Before They Hit
Stay Home and Stay Away from Windows:
If possible, please stay home if your state or city requests that you stay off the roads because of a dangerously high wind event. Keep your family away from all windows in case they break from falling trees or projectiles and flying debris blowing through your yard. If you’re really concerned, consider spending time in an interior room or basement in your home or putting plywood or storm shutters over your windows.
Another concern is falling tree limbs and branch destruction. Even old established trees are prone to being blown over in heavy winds. Be sure to consider keeping trees near power lines and telephone lines properly trimmed. That helps protect the lines and makes the trees less prone to fall since there isn’t as much mass for the wind to catch hold of. Dead trees can also be a problem since their branches are so brittle.
Stock up on Food:
We have all been stocking up on food. The recent Pandemic has made people more aware that we must stock food. We aren’t hoarding, and we aren’t spreading panic, we’re being REAL, my friends. In case you missed this post, Canned Foods I Highly Recommend You Store
Stock up on Water:
I’m sure you’ve heard that FEMA recommends only one gallon of water per person daily. I strongly disagree. I highly recommend four gallons per person per day. Please start with three days’ worth of water at the very least, then seven days, and then 30 or more days’ worth of water for your family. We need water for hydration, cooking, and personal hygiene at the very least.
Paper Products:
Please stock up on paper plates, hot and cold cups, and plastic silverware. Here’s the deal: I don’t want to use my water to clean the small eating utensils. I can wash some, but I don’t want to use all my fuel to heat the water to wash dishes during wind events or severe thunderstorms. Of course, I store water to clean the pans or other cooking utensils.
I know I can bake brownies in my Sun Oven if the sun is out and I can place it in a safe location. Please don’t purchase a Sun Oven for your area if you have limited sunshine. I’m just giving you the heads-up here. I paid $250.00 for each of my Sun Ovens, now they are $549.00 plus tax. YIKES! They work great if you have sunshine several days a year.
Laundry:
Are you like me? When I hear a wind advisory on the news, I ensure ALL the laundry is done. Granted, we only have 3 or 4 loads a week with the sheets and towels. But I love knowing my laundry is washed, folded, and put away.
I must confess, I LOVE clean sheets. We only wash them once a week; no, I don’t iron them like my grandmother did. I watched a show about Oprah, and she has someone who works for her who changes her sheets every two days. That sounds heavenly to me unless I’m the one changing them.
Be Ready For Power Outages:
A few years ago, one of our TV news channels announced that 175,000 people were powerless, and they had no idea how long it would take to be restored. This is where blankets come into play in the winter, or we may need a wood stove or fireplace to keep us warm.
Well, in the summer, stock some Spray Bottles. Trust me, I have used them to try to cool off. I also love Frogg Toggs! You just wet them and they keep you cool!
Yes, I can wear my bathing suit when the temps hit 90 degrees, but a spray bottle works better for me when the A/C is out. LOL!
Fuel:
Please stock up on fuel that is safe to store on your property. It could be butane canisters for butane stoves, propane tanks for the BBQ, or camping stoves. If you have a wood stove, stock up on wood, or coal if your stove can handle coal. We used to have a wood-burning stove that we could interchange between fuels.
I miss that stove since we downsized to a smaller home many years ago. Now, we have downsized once again in Northern Utah.
Flashlights and Batteries:
Sometimes, we need a quick reminder to grab some fresh batteries. I’m still so humbled that my friend Harry from Texas sent me some C and D batteries a few years ago. I was having trouble finding them here, but now I see them again on the shelves. Anyway, please check your flashlights to see if they work and if your battery stash is adequate. Solar flashlights are even better, and I have mine charging on the windowsill all the time.
I store small ones in my front window in our living room so they can gather solar power. They are ready when I need them. If you have solar yard lights, they would work as well. They would gather the sun to charge, and then you can bring them inside when needed.
Cars and Trucks:
Please keep your gas tanks at least 1/2 to 3/4 full, if possible. If you had to evacuate, you would not be one of those cars waiting in line at the gas station, only to find when you get to the tanks that they are now empty. Where I live, it seems like every three-day weekend, the gas station within a mile of me hangs those yellow bags “out of gas!”
If traveling the local roads, be aware of fallen trees, branches, and utility lines. Never drive across any lines unless directed to by authorities who have tested to ensure they aren’t live.
Also, be cautious when passing large semi-trucks or travel trailers on the freeway. Gusts can push them over. They often park under overpasses to be protected from the winds, so watch for these rigs since they may not have their lights on.
Windows:
You may want to make sure all your windows are locked and secure. If your screens are loose, remove them and store them. They are easy to put back on.
Front Porch:
I’m one of those ladies with two chairs and a plant on a table on the porch by the front door. Yes, I love working outside with my dog and laughing with family and neighbors who stop by. But I bring the plant inside when the winds get bad and remove the chair pads if the winds are over 50 miles an hour. Outdoor items are very susceptible to damage from high, sustained winds.
Gates:
We must secure our gates, or you may not have a gate if the winds get bad. We have had sections of our fence end up a block away. In our neighborhood in Southern Utah, we had block (concrete blocks) as fences/walls. But when we had wood and vinyl slats in other homes we’ve owned, bye-bye fence sections every couple of years.
Garage Doors:
Ensure your garage doors are closed and secured, or the wind may blow whatever is in your garage down the street. If you have a carport, secure whatever may blow away. I use rope and bungee cords on just about everything. My favorite ones are the 48-inch Bungee Cord Straps.
Gardens:
If the winds are terrible, we harvest what we can and pray the winds die down. I have tried covering the garden boxes, but the covers get ripped off too often.
Backyards:
You’ll want to strap down your BBQ. We had ours tip over once, and now it’s secured to a railing with those wonderful bungee cords. If you have a trampoline, it may end up a block away if the wind hits your yard. Sometimes, using rope or bungee cords to “huddle” your backyard chairs may help them from becoming airborne. Also, consider other things like a large table umbrella, patio furniture or lawn furniture that are subject to high winds.
The city comes and picks up our garbage containers every Monday morning. You can count on garbage cans being blown over on windy mornings, and seeing some of the contents scattered around the neighborhood.
Winds: What You Need To Do Before They Hit
Here are some numbers to think about when Hurricane Force Winds are due:
Category One: 74-95 MPH
Category Two: 96-110 MPH
Category Three: 111-129 MPH
Category Four: 130-156 MPH
Category Five: 157+ MPH
Thank goodness, we aren’t subject to hurricanes here in Utah. We also seldom experience tornadoes. I feel for the families who’ve lost loved ones recently in the “tornado alley” states this past week. Our prayers are with you during these difficult times.
Final Word:
Sometimes we must be reminded about storms that include strong winds: what you must do before they hit is critical! Please keep prepping, we must have emergency plans to best prepare our resources against the winds. All families should have a home and vehicle emergency kit! Stay safe, and stay well. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Trees Blown Over AdobeStock_299135945 by WideAwake, Wind Damage In A Residential Area AdobeStock_379428893 By Kat7213
We have learned many of these tips from hurricane seasons here in NW Florida. Here’s a few more.
Things like trampolines, lawnmower trailers, patio tables can be turned upside down & weighted down with cement blocks or 5 gallon buckets of water. The object is to reduce the sail area that can be caught in the wind.
Laying patio chairs on their backs reduces the sail area, too. We either wedge our chairs under the potting table or lay them in the overhang where the lawn tractor is stored.
If you have time, pull vines & trim bushes off the chainlink fence. This reduces the weight & lets the wind blow through. We normally have a couple days notice before the hurricane makes landfall.
We also work all year to keep the jungly growth away from the house and buildings. It’s a full time job in this area to keep shrubs, bushes & trees away from falling distance of the house.
Hi BDN, great comment! It reminds me of a neighbor that had their glass patio table in the back yard crash into their pool from some bad winds! I forgot about that!! It shattered with glass everywhere. I like the tips on putting cement blocks or 5-gallon buckets of water to secure items. The shrubs, that’s a full-time job! Great tips, thank you!! Stay safe, Linda
Quick comment about C-D batteries and flashlights. Those batteries are so big and cumbersome so we replaced all of our old flashlights with smaller LED ones from Costco. They come in a three-pack and are quite affordable. They use AAA batteries. Some of the flashlights will also have a strobe effect on them which may come in handy. We have them alllll over the house! They’re by doors, beds, counters in the kitchen, by the kids’ beds, bathrooms, desks, in our cars – you name it, they’re there. That way we know immediately where to grope to find one if the lights go out. Now we no longer have to store those bigger batteries. AA and AAA batteries are frequently on sale at Costco for a good price, too. *Guess this wasn’t such a “quick” comment afterall! LOL
Hi Robbie, great tip! I have six solar flashlights in the front room window ready to go! I need the C & D batteries for other items, not flashlights. I will have to check out those flashlights when I go to Costo. Great comment, Linda
Good suggestions.We had a big storm in CA in our area one year. We had some glass b;ow across our yard and fly into our window right behind our bed. What a night and scare! We sold our house and moved to another state. I noticed Northern Utah had 99 mph. winds yesterday that turned over trucks. We hve been through there and know what those winds can be like. We always need to prepare!
Hi Cheryl, wow how scary!!! Yes, actually the winds in one area got up to 112 miles an hour. They had 45 semis tip over in one day, the first time in Utah history. Waiting to hear if all the drivers are okay. These winds were crazy, I have two daughters who live in Salt Lake City, Utah. So many families still do not have power. Crazy weather. I’m glad you moved! Stay well, stay safe! Linda
Something to keep in mind as well is to keep trees away from your home. I love the shade that trees give but with high winds (and now major forest fires) trees close to your home can be disastrous if winds cause limbs to crack off or if the tree itself is uprooted. If the trees are close to your home, you can/will have major damages.
Hi Leanne, you are so right! Salt Lake City, Utah has major issues with large trees that have uprooted or snapped in half. So crazy, we love the shade but not the damage! Linda
Just wanted to share a personal example that isn’t strictly prepping related.
Shortly after my wife and I moved into a new home we put up inflatable decorations for the holidays. One evening we went out for a few hours and came back to find the inflatable missing from the yard! It was a 7′ or 8′ inflatable pumpkin and it had blown down the street. We thank our lucky stars that it didn’t blow into the road and cause an accident! Ever since then when we have inflated decorations outside we watch the wind forecast obsessively so we can deflate them when the winds get too high for the specific inflatables. Our dragon for Halloween we drop at 10Mph, but the Christmas scene is lower profile so we keep it up to 15Mph.
Last time we had a serious windstorm around here, we made sure the BBQ grill was up against the house and tied down the lids on the trashcans with the smoker chips, and then tied the cans to the porch railing. Also brought in the porch furniture…it was a bit crowded but safer than leaving them outside to potentially become missiles to damage the house, garage or even worse…the generator!
The home I grew up in had trees quite close to the house, but it was dense enough to almost be called a forest so the trees would all support each other during windstorms. But if any tree was showing signs of distress it would be cut down in calm weather so we didn’t have to worry about it going the wrong direction during a wind event.
Thanks for all you do for the prepping community!
Hi DMWalsh, great tip on bringing in the porch furniture!! You know it takes ONE windstorm and you learn quickly how dangerous they can be! I’m so glad the inflatables did not cause an accident. Whew!! I love the holidays! Yikes, you need that generator protected for sure! Stay safe, great comment! Linda
We kinda stay prepared for this. Till it hits 50mph it ain’t even really wind bout half the months here.
Hi Matt, I hear you on the 50 mile an hour winds being typical. We have two cities in Utah that I know where all the trees bend and stay that way because of the winds, we call them windy cities, Hurricane, Utah and Farmington, Utah. LOL! Linda