Prepping in Oklahoma City
The metro has lived through some of the strongest tornadoes on record, including May 3, 1999 and Moore in 2013. In October 2020, an ice storm left hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans without power.
- Tornadoes
- Ice storms
- Hail and wildfire
Sign up today
The official Oklahoma City alert and lookup tools. Each takes a few minutes and works even if you do nothing else on this page.
- OKC storm shelter registryRegister your storm shelter
Register your home storm shelter with the City of Oklahoma City so police, fire and EMS know to check it after a tornado.
- OKC Accessible Hazard Alert SystemSign up for accessible alerts
Oklahoma City's emergency alerts in ASL, voice and text for residents who are Deaf, Blind, hard of hearing or Deaf-Blind.
Links checked October 2026. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach most phones automatically; these add local detail.
What can go wrong in Oklahoma City
- Tornadoes
- Central Oklahoma sees violent tornadoes most springs. The 1999 and 2013 tornadoes in and around the city were among the strongest ever measured.
- Ice storms
- The October 2020 ice storm snapped trees still in leaf and caused one of the largest outages in state history.
- Hail
- Large hail is common in spring.
- Grass fires
- Dry, windy days spread fast-moving fires on the city's edges.
- Heat
- Summer heat makes outages dangerous.
What that means for your plan
Know where you'll shelter from a tornado: a storm shelter or safe room is best; otherwise the lowest floor, interior room, no windows. Keep shoes and helmets there.
If you have a storm shelter, register it with the city so responders know to check it.
Don't count on sirens indoors. Use a NOAA weather radio and phone alerts that can wake you.
Do these first, in this order
- NOAA weather radio
Tornado warnings at night, even with cell networks down.
Radios and communication guide - Shelter kit
Shoes, helmets, flashlight and a first-aid kit in your shelter spot.
First aid and medical guide - Warmth without power
Ice storms bring long outages in the cold.
Lighting and staying warm guide - Power station
Phones and lights through outages.
Power stations and generators guide - Two weeks of water
Basic insurance for any long outage.
Water storage and filters guide - Go-bag
For grass fires and post-tornado displacement.
Go-bags and evacuation guide
Questions
Should I register my storm shelter in Oklahoma City?
Yes. The city's free registry tells police, fire and EMS where shelters are, so they can check them after a tornado.
How do I get emergency alerts in Oklahoma City?
Keep Wireless Emergency Alerts on, use a NOAA weather radio, and follow local warnings. Residents who are Deaf, Blind or hard of hearing can sign up for the city's accessible alert system.
How ready is your Oklahoma City home?
The quiz weights every item for suburbs risks and shows your top gaps. About 3 minutes, no sign-up.