Violent weather occurs year-round and can quickly cause severe injuries or death and destroy your home and property. While the weather can't be controlled, you can make sure you and your family are ready when bad weather rolls in.

Certain seasons and different parts of the country have distinct types of destructive weather. Be aware of what the weather is like where you live and what you need to do to prepare for emergencies. Different types of emergencies may require different types of preparation.

Tornadoes are found most frequestly in the United States and typically occur east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months, according to information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which watches weather patterns for the government. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries, NOAA states. A tornado is defined as a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.

The Atlantic hurricane season starts around June 1 and lasts for six months, but its precursor, spring's heavy rains and snow melt, can bring widespread flooding that can be almost as destructive.

Preparing before the storm

According to data gathered by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, more tornadoes hit in May than any other month of the year, but more people die from tornadoes in April. This, in part, is because people aren't prepared early in the tornado season. In addition, while only two percent of all tornadoes are listed as "violent" storms, having winds in excess of 205 miles per hour, these cause 70 percent of all deaths.

The best time to prepare for bad weather is long before it's headed your way. Giving yourself a chance to get things in order without the pressure of the proverbial black cloud looming on the horizon will help you avoid forgetting something.

Having emergency supplies on hand in your home is the first step. A disaster-preparedness kit is best stored in a container that's easily portable, such as a duffle bag or camping backpack. Placing items in waterproof plastic bags will help further protect them. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) recommends keeping these emergency supplies on hand:

• First-aid kit and essential medications.
• Canned food and can opener.
• At least three gallons of water per person (one gallon of water per person for at least three days; often more is needed).
• Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags. For colder climates, make sure you have enough warm clothing.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
• A small amount of cash.
• Any special items, such as medications, required for infants, elderly, or disabled family members.
• Extra copies of all keys to your home and vehicles, as well as any keys for neighbors or other family members you may share responsability for.
• Written instructions for how to turn off gas and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn them back on.)
• Copies of important documents, including insurance policies, wills, titles and deeds to property, birth and marriage certificates, credit card and bank account information, and an inventory of household belongings. It is not necessary to keep the entire insurance policy with this information. A listing of policy numbers with the name and contact information for the insurance company is sufficient.

It is also advisable to store copies of your important documents somewhere other than your home, such as in a bank's safety deposit box or with out-of-town family or friends. If this proves impossible, storing the documents in a fireproof box in your home may be the best alternative.

Preparing your family

After assembling your disaster kit, the next step is preparing your family. It is important that each member of your family know what to do in case of an emergency, whether they are at home, work, or school, or somewhere else entirely.

Possibly the most crucial step is discussing where to be during a bad storm. Where do you want to go if a tornado warning has been issued? What about before an impending flood?

After the storm

After storm danger has passed, be it flood waters receding or winds dying down, it's time to assess the damage and start repairs.

You may feel that the damage settlement offered by your insurance company is too small. You should contact the insurance company and explain why you believe the settlement offer is too low. If need be, you can hire your own adjuster to help build your case and prove that you should receive more.

As you repair damage from storms and flooding, using licensed and reputable contractors helps ensure that quality repairs are done to your home.

You may need to rebuild parts of your home to meet local building standards that it didn't meet before the storm. Because this may mean a design or material change, your homeowners policy might not cover the additional expense. However, it is possible to add on a policy endorsement to your home insurance that covers required code improvements. Just remember that'll you need to have that endorsement in place before storm damage is done.