Don't think severe weather won't affect you. And don't expect immediate help when it does.

The widespread impact of the Sept. 14 windstorm drove that message home across the Miami Valley, leaving some folks without power for more than a week.

And in a few weeks, snow or ice could cause similar outages under much less hospitable weather conditions.

While it's not always possible to prevent severe weather's inconveniences or devastation, you can take steps to lessen the impact:

• Brush up on operating a generator properly.
• Know where the nearest heating center will be in case your house loses power in winter.
• Make sure your home is well-insulated and has weather stripping around doors and window sills. Insulate pipes and learn how to shut off water valves in case of ruptured pipes.
• Have an external contact, preferably an out-of-state friend or relative, who you can reach during a weather emergency, and who can let other loved ones know you're OK.

Businesses should:

• Have an evacuation plan and review it annually.
• Practice the plan with coworkers. "No plan is effective if it just sits on the shelf," said Tamara McBride, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
• Protect and back up records.
• Write a crisis communication plan detailing how your organization will communicate with employees after severe weather hits.

McBride said during the severe snowstorm in February, businesses were open despite local government alerts that motorists were to stay off roads.

"During the snowstorm, we did recognize there is a significant gap between businesses and local emergency planning," she said.

If power goes out, unplug appliances so power surges don't damage them when power is restored. That was a common problem in the days following the September windstorm.

After severe weather hits an area, the window of opportunity for a change in attitudes toward disaster preparedness closes quickly, said Michelann Ooten, public information office for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

Oklahoma has more tornadoes per square mile than any other U.S. state.

For more information on protecting your home or business from severe weather, go to www.ready.gov.