• If you hear thunder, you are close enough to a storm to be struck by lightning. Go to a safe place immediately! The safest locations are sturdy buildings and hard-topped vehicles. Wait there until 30 minutes AFTER the last rumble of thunder is heard.
• Get away from open areas, including armadas, porches, trees, convertible cars, swimming pools, and open areas.
• Plan outdoor activities to avoid being outside between mid afternoon and mid evening, especially in higher elevations where lightning is more common.
• Do not touch any wires or plumbing inside a building
• Remember that it does not have to be raining for you to be struck by lightning.
• Lightning can strikes up to 60 miles away from the nearest rainfall!
• Bring pets indoors. Lightning and thunder are very scary for pets, and they are likely to panic or even run away to try and escape the storm.
• If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 immediately

• Unlike other parts of the country, thunderstorm wind gusts here in Arizona almost always exceed 40 mph. The strongest straight line wind gusts can exceed 100 mph, and can produce damage similar to a tornado! Anytime a thunderstorm approaches, no matter how weak it seems, move indoors to avoid flying debris. Winds rushing down from a thunderstorm can develop very quickly.
• When a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect, it means damaging wind gusts of 60mph or higher are likely. Move into a central interior room. Stay away from windows.
• Unanchored mobile homes are NOT safe in any severe thunderstorms, and even anchored mobile homes can be heavily damaged in winds over 80 mph. Move to a more sturdy structure.
• Stay away from trees. The vast majority of people are killed or injured in severe thunderstorms by trees falling on them, from flying debris, or from downed power lines.
• Never touch a downed power line, even if it appears dead. Assume that it is live. Call for help instead.
• Straight line winds can travel dozens of miles away from the thunderstorm that produced them. If the wind suddenly shifts and blows toward you from an approaching storm, while the temperature either becomes much colder or much hotter, the winds are likely to become even stronger. Move indoors!
• Before the monsoon season, it is a good idea to either secure loose outdoor furniture and garbage cans, or move them indoors. These are frequently blown around in our summer thunderstorms - even the weakest ones.
  

• These are an underrated killer in Arizona! Straight lines winds in any thunderstorm can lift huge clouds of dust and reduce visibilities to near zero in seconds, which can quickly result in deadly, multi-vehicle accidents on roadways.
• Dust storms are more common in the early part of the monsoon, near agricultural areas, and near Willcox Playa in Cochise County. Use caution in these areas any time thunderstorms are nearby.
• If you encounter a dust storm, pull off the road immediately. Turn off your headlights and taillights, put your vehicle in "PARK," and take your foot off the brake. Other motorists may tend to follow taillights in an attempt to get through the dust storm, and may strike your vehicle from behind.
• Dust storms usually last a few minutes, and up to an hour at most. Stay where you are until the dust storm passes.

• Flash floods are common in Arizona. There are thousands of low water crossing and dips which flood every summer. Know where they are, and avoid them during heavy rains.
• Never ever drive into a flooded roadway. The water depth is very easy to misjudge, and the road itself may be damaged or destroyed underneath. It only takes about 1 to 2 feet of water to float most vehicles, including SUVs.
• Never drive around barricades. They are there for a reason - usually because flash flooding is about to take place, is already happening or the road is damaged by flooding and is unsafe.
• Never allow children to play near washes or storm drains after any rainfall, no matter how light. These flood easily and rapidly, and storm drains are usually so large that children can be swept away.
• Beware of distant thunderstorms, especially if they're over mountains. Flash flooding can occur many miles away from the thunderstorm as the runoff flows into the valleys and deserts.
• No not camp overnight near streams during the monsoon. Although many of our thunderstorms occur during the afternoon and evening, some of our worst flash floods have occurred in the middle of the night.
• Hikers and mountain bikers should try to get out earlier in the day to avoid the dangers of not only flash flooding, but also lightning. Wherever you are hiking during the monsoon, be aware of your escape routes, follow ranger instructions, and be prepared to move to higher ground quickly.

• Tornadoes do occur in Arizona. Unfortunately, many of them here are not detectible by radar because they are either too small, hidden by interfering mountains, or develop from the ground up. While they do not last long, they can occur with little or no warning, and can do considerable damage. If you see a tornado, which stretches from the clouds all the way down to the surface, take the same precautions you would for a severe thunderstorm. Move inside a strong building away from windows. A small, central, interior room like a bathroom is best.

• Large hail is uncommon in the deserts and valleys, but more common in the mountains and mid elevations. If possible, move your vehicle to a carport or garage if hail is larger than dime size. But do not put your life at risk! Lightning and straight line winds are far more dangerous than hail.

• Drink plenty of water. It is very easy to become dehydrated in our desert climate without realizing it.
• Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Both increase stress on the body and actually accelerate dehydration.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
• Stay out of the sun.
• Shift strenuous outdoor activities too cooler parts of the day, especially during the early morning.
• Check on elderly friends, neighbors and family often. Elders are generally more susceptible to heat-related illness.
• Take advantage of air conditioning when possible. Many homes in southern Arizona still use evaporative cooling (swamp coolers) which are much less effective during the monsoon.
• If you, or someone you're with, begins to feel tired and flushed and begin to sweat excessively, you may be suffering from heat exhaustion. Stop any strenuous activities immediately, drink more water, and find a cool place to rest.
• If someone becomes disoriented, stops sweating, has hot dry skin, or even worse, passes out, that person is probably experiencing heat stroke - a serious medical condition. Call 911 immediately! If possible, move them to a cooler location.
• Provide plenty of water and shade for pets.

• A flashlight and extra batteries
• A NOAA Weather/All Hazards radio, and/or a battery-operated commercial radio
• Extra food and water (3 gallons of water per person in your home)
• A first-aid kit
• Canned food and a hand can opener
• Extra clothing and bedding
• An extra set of car keys
• Credit card or cash
• Special items like diapers, baby formula, prescription and essential medications, extra eyeglasses or hearing aids, and pet supplies.

Flash Flood Warning: Life-threatening, rapid flooding is about to occur, or is already underway. Move to higher ground now! It is particularly dangerous to be in a low lying area or near a wash.