Kansas homeowner guide

Storm shelter access

This is item one in Kansas. Know exactly where your shelter is (basement, below-grade shelter room, or community shelter). Know the path to it in the dark. Every household member should know the route. Practice getting there with the lights off.

Main water shutoff

At the meter or wall entry. Kansas hard freezes (and the occasional ice storm) can burst pipes. Know your shutoff before any significant cold event.

Gas shutoff

Evergy (formerly Westar/KCP&L) or Southern Union/Southern Star serve most of Kansas. Know your utility and the meter shutoff location. Evergy gas emergency: 1-800-383-1183.

HVAC filter and system maintenance

Kansas's extreme temperature range (summer heat index 105-115°F, winter lows -20°F) means HVAC runs hard year-round. Replace filters every 1-2 months. Service in spring and fall.

Drought watering for foundation

Kansas's increasingly frequent droughts cause expansive clay soils (particularly in eastern Kansas) to shrink away from foundations. Use a soaker hose around the perimeter during extended dry periods to maintain consistent soil moisture.

April to June: highest tornado risk period

The central Kansas 'Tornado Alley' sees peak activity April to June. Joplin (2011, just across the Missouri border), the 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore EF5, and countless others originated in this region. Have NOAA weather radio, smartphone alerts enabled, and your shelter pre-cleared of storage.

Hail damage inspection

Inspect the roof after every hail event; Kansas hail can reach 4+ inches in diameter. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are the highest-ROI Kansas roofing upgrade.

Pipe protection and heating prep

Kansas ice storms (western Kansas especially) hit without major advance warning. By November: insulate exposed pipes, service the heating system, stock 5-7 days of emergency supplies.

Roof condition before winter

Address any summer hail damage before winter. Compromised roofing fails faster under ice load.

In-ground or below-grade shelter

Above-ground safe rooms resist tornadoes up to EF5 if built to FEMA P-361 standards. In-ground shelters in the garage floor or underground near the house are traditional Kansas solutions. If you don't have a shelter, install one. Kansas has a Shelter Grant Program. Contact Kansas Division of Emergency Management.

Keep shelter clear and ready

Do not use the shelter for long-term storage. Keep a flashlight, NOAA radio, water, and first aid supplies inside. Practice the drill with all household members quarterly.

Class 4 shingles or metal roofing

Metal roofing or Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are the best long-term choice for Kansas. Most Kansas insurers offer premium discounts. Payback period in a high-hail zone like Kansas is typically 5-8 years through premium savings alone.

Warning response protocol

Warning = take shelter NOW. No exceptions for 'it usually misses us.' Kansas has EF5 tornadoes that wipe entire neighborhoods to bare slabs. The shelter is the only answer, not a vehicle, not a ditch unless the shelter is impossible to reach.

Vehicle tornado protocol

Do NOT try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle unless you have plenty of time, clear sight of the tornado, and a road that takes you at 90 degrees to the tornado's path. If caught in a vehicle with no shelter: lie flat in a low ditch, hands over neck, away from the car.

Shelter immediately: no exceptions

Kansas tornado warnings mean take shelter now. Get to the basement or below-grade shelter. Interior room, lowest floor, away from windows. Cover your head. Wait for the official all-clear from NWS Wichita, NWS Dodge City, or NWS Topeka.

Shut off and drain

Main water off at the meter. Open all faucets. Photograph damage. Kansas plumber wait times after ice events: 48-72 hours in cities, longer in rural areas.

Storm flooding and groundwater response

Do not enter flooded basement if electrical equipment is submerged. Call Evergy (1-800-383-1183) or your cooperative to disconnect at the meter. Pump out, dry immediately.

Tornado and ice storm outages

Kansas ice storms and tornado damage cause extended outages. Evergy: 1-800-383-1183. Kansas Electric Cooperatives vary by county. Generators outside only, 20 feet from windows.

Evacuate and call from outside

Rotten egg smell: everyone out. Leave door open. Call 911. Evergy Gas: 1-800-383-1183. Southern Star Central Gas: 1-800-555-8668. Do not re-enter until cleared.

Two exits, meet outside, never re-enter

Two ways out of every room. Specific outdoor meeting place. Crawl under smoke. Call 911. Never go back inside.