How should you protect people, pets, and cars from hail?

This procedure is for hail, not sleet

Hail forms in thunderstorms and can injure people and animals, break glass, and damage vehicles and buildings. Sleet is frozen precipitation associated with winter conditions and requires different travel and ice guidance.

Use winter-weather guidance for sleet.

Bring people inside

Move everyone into a sturdy building. Stay away from windows, skylights, exterior doors, and large glass areas.

If the severe thunderstorm warning also includes damaging wind or a possible tornado, use the more protective shelter instruction: a small interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.

Do not send anyone outside to protect property after hail, thunder, lightning, or damaging wind has begun.

Bring pets inside

Bring pets into the sturdy building before the storm arrives. Use a leash, carrier, or familiar call so the move can be completed quickly.

Do not leave a pet in a yard, open kennel, doghouse, screened enclosure, carport, or other space exposed to wind-driven hail. Do not remain outside chasing an animal once conditions are threatening.

Households with animals that cannot be moved quickly need a standing shelter plan. Moving large animals is an advance action, not something to begin during an imminent severe thunderstorm.

Move vehicles only if time and conditions permit

After people and pets are inside or under another adult's care, move a vehicle only if:

• hail has not started;
• thunder is not audible and lightning is not visible;
• damaging wind has not arrived;
• no tornado instruction requires immediate shelter; and
• there is enough time to park and return to the sturdy building.

A fully enclosed garage provides the best vehicle protection. A carport or sturdy canopy may reduce hail damage to a vehicle, but it is not lightning-safe shelter for a person. Park, close the vehicle, and go into the sturdy building.

Do not shelter a vehicle under a tree. Do not stop under a highway bridge or overpass, where vehicles can block traffic and other hazards may be present.

If no covered space is available, leave the vehicle where it is. Property damage is not a reason to remain outside during a severe thunderstorm.

If hail starts while someone is outdoors

Go immediately to a sturdy building. If no building or enclosed hard-topped vehicle can be reached, protect the head and neck while continuing toward shelter. Do not stop to collect hailstones or photograph the storm.

Lightning and damaging wind may accompany hail. Follow the lightning and wind shelter instructions even when hail is the most visible part of the storm.

If hail starts while driving

Do not speed up to escape the storm.

If a sturdy building or garage is immediately reachable without driving farther into the storm, use it. Otherwise:

1. slow down and pull completely out of moving traffic at a safe location;
2. remain in the vehicle with the seat belt fastened;
3. turn away from the windows and protect the head and eyes with a coat, blanket, or other material if glass may break; and
4. wait for the hail to end before continuing, unless another hazard requires movement.

Do not stop beneath a bridge or overpass. Do not park where flash flooding, falling trees, power lines, or moving traffic create a greater hazard.

Once everyone is inside

• remain away from windows and skylights;
• close blinds, drapes, or shades if this can be done without standing in front of glass;
• monitor the severe thunderstorm warning for damaging wind or tornado information;
• keep pets contained; and
• wait until hail, lightning, and other warned hazards have ended before going outside.

Use the separate lightning return rule when thunder or lightning occurred.

Do not

• Do not give a vehicle the same priority as a person or pet.
• Do not go outside for a vehicle after the storm has arrived.
• Do not use a carport or canopy as a person's lightning shelter.
• Do not park under a tree, bridge, or overpass.
• Do not drive farther into large hail to search for cover.
• Do not stand near windows to watch or record the hail.
• Do not recommend this procedure for sleet.

Next action

Identify where people and pets will shelter. Record whether a garage or covered vehicle space is available and the latest condition at which moving the vehicle must stop. If the storm is already threatening, leave the vehicle and remain inside.