The stormy weekend should serve as a reminder that tornado season is back, and it’s up to every individual and family to have a plan in the event a tornado or other severe storm hits.

The southern Plains states were rocked by more than 100 twisters over a 24-hour period Saturday and Sunday, and warnings of severe weather stretched as far north as Minnesota. It’s the season to be wary — and to be prepared. Minnesotans are fortunate to live in an area where there are excellent municipal storm warning systems; sirens get tested routinely and alert officials sound them when there’s real danger of a tornado striking. But depending on others for safety is always a poor idea; far better to make “I’ll hear the sirens” a back-up plan, rather than the primary plan. Being prepared means keeping an eye on the skies, and on other forms of weather information. It means having a family plan that works whether everyone is home or out and about. It means knowing where the sheltered areas are at work, and what to do if caught in a storm while driving. And it means having a few basic supplies on hand at home, in the event of an extended power outage.

Although fortune (or, rather, misfortune) sometimes seems to determine who gets hurt and how badly when a storm strikes, the reality is that most of the time people make their own luck. Those who are prepared and have thought through possible emergencies, are far more likely to emerge from a crisis in good shape. Make it your business to be prepared.