While Finland does not experience earthquakes or hurricanes on the same scale as many other countries, we still should not be lulled into a false sense of security. Storms, heavy rain, large snow accumulations, severe frost, and thunderstorms can cause serious disruptions or damage to both households and organizations. In this blog, we look at how to prepare for weather-related disruptions in Finnish conditions and minimize potential damage.
What risks are associated with natural phenomena?
In Finland, weather conditions can surprise us in many ways, even if we are not located in the world’s most disaster-prone zones. Natural phenomena can also present themselves differently depending on the environment whether you are in an urban area, a rural setting, or by the coast:
- Heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, or rising sea levels can cause flooding that brings water to street level, fills basements, halts traffic, and causes significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.
- Thunderstorms can cause power surges that damage home electronics and, in the worst cases, start fires.
- Strong winds can topple trees, damage power lines, and cause structural damage to buildings.
- In winter, severe frost can burst water pipes and disrupt heating, while heavy snow can damage roofs.
- On the other hand, prolonged drought can increase the risk of wildfires and create challenges for water availability.
These situations are not just rare exceptions; they are becoming a more likely part of everyday life as climate change progresses. While we cannot fully prevent the effects of natural phenomena, we can prepare effectively. Proactive preparedness helps reduce financial losses, protect lives, and speed up recovery after exceptional events. This requires planning, up-to-date information, and concrete measures at home as well as in the workplace.
How to prepare at home
For households, preparedness means proactive readiness for situations where public services such as electricity, water, or communications may be temporarily disrupted. Every home should have a so-called emergency supply kit, which includes basic food items, drinking water, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, spare batteries, and first aid supplies. Power bank has also become an essential part of preparedness, ensuring that critical communication devices remain operational during a power outage.
It is also important to be aware of the specific characteristics of your residential area. Is your home near bodies of water or low-lying areas that could be prone to flooding? Could strong winds create hazards in your yard or to roof structures? Regularly check the condition of trees on your property: decayed, unstable, or overly close trees can cause significant damage during a storm. Likewise, the condition of physical structures such as windows, doors, and drainage systems should be inspected regularly, and protective measures taken if necessary, for example, to reduce flood risk. Knowledge, preparation, and regular inspections make your home safer in all weather conditions.
How to prepare in the workplace
Companies and workplaces have a particular responsibility for the safety of employees, customers, and visitors, and in exceptional situations their own operational continuity is also at stake. Preparedness in this context means anticipating operating procedures and resources for situations in which electricity, water, communications, or premises may be temporarily unavailable. Rescue plans and emergency procedures should be up to date, easily accessible, and well known to staff. It is important that everyone knows the evacuation routes, assembly points, and their role in exceptional situations.
Workplaces should ensure they have adequate first aid and fire extinguishing equipment, functioning emergency lighting, and backup power systems or other resilience solutions for critical operations. The safety of the building and surrounding areas such as roofs, windows, outdoor storage, and yard trees should be inspected regularly to prevent damage from storms or heavy rain.
Communication and alert systems should also be tested and ensure that staff can be reached quickly in a disruption. Regular drills and training ensure that actions remain smooth and safe, even if the situation arises unexpectedly.
What if the damage is already done?
Even with good preparedness measures in place, natural forces can sometimes still cause damage. During and after a storm, flood, or other natural phenomenon, the most important thing is to act calmly and safely. First, check for any injuries and ensure that everyone is safe. Never approach downed power lines or structures at risk of collapsing.
Contact professionals if you discover damage that requires specialized expertise or poses a safety risk, such as structural faults or electrical damage. Call the emergency number 112 only in urgent emergencies. If you are unsure whether a building is safe, do not re-enter until a professional has inspected it. In workplaces, it is equally important to ensure that conditions remain safe for employees before resuming operations. Start documenting damage as soon as it is safe to do so. Take photos before repairs are made and prepare a written account of what happened. This will help in dealing with your insurance company.
Monitor, plan, and share information
Whether at work or at home, proactive action and following official information bulletins are key preparedness measures. Up-to-date weather and warning information allows time to prepare, and clear, easily accessible instructions help make quick and calm decisions during disruptions. When everyone knows what to do, uncertainty decreases and a sense of safety increases. Sharing information and practicing agreed-upon procedures ensure that operations remain smooth even in unexpected situations.
Natural phenomena cannot be prevented, but their effects can be reduced through proactive preparedness. True safety comes from a combination of anticipation, preparation, and follow-up action. When plans are up to date, equipment is in working order, and people are aware of their roles, situations can be handled in a controlled manner and recovery is faster. Safety is a constant state of readiness and foresight which is why it should be an everyday habit both at home and in the workplace.
If you want to deepen your knowledge and get practical tips for preparing for various incidents and exceptional situations, take a look at these:
- Suomi.fi, Guide to preparing for incidents and crises https://www.suomi.fi/guides/preparedness/how-do-i-prepare-for-incidents-and-crises
- 72 hours preparedness instructions, powered by the Finnish National Rescue Association SPEK and National Emergency Supply Agency https://72tuntia.fi/en/
- Pelastustoimi.fi, Preparedness guidelines https://pelastustoimi.fi/en/rescue-services/preparedness
