It is only possible to plan and take appropriate precautions if alerts about imminent severe weather events are received in good time. The earlier the better! Various internet weather portals offer free registration. If a severe weather event is expected, an alert is then emailed to registered users (with information about duration, likely impact and any recommended action).

A thorough analysis of the situation and the potential risks is essential in order to plan appropriate preventive measures and responses. This assessment should identify and evaluate the possible impact of various severe weather scenarios (see the introduction to the Severe weather section) on the premises.

While outdoor seating areas can make a cultural institution more inviting and advertising billboards or similar are essential for attracting visitors, such objects can easily become a risk during a storm. Regular patrols can identify such threats and eliminate them if necessary.

To minimize or prevent storm damage over the medium to long term, it is essential to regularly inspect the exterior of the building. Some of the main things to check for include:
- Loose lightning rods
- Damaged, loose or detached elements; bubbles or tears in the roof covering
- Missing or damaged roof shingles/boards and their anchorings
- Cracked or spalled chimney heads, covers and enclosures
- Loose antenna mountings
- Cracks in exterior masonry
- Ill-fitting windows and glass elements
- Damaged canopies, pest or rot infestation in wood
- Loose snow guards
- Ill-fitting skylights, rooflights and domes
- Detached or bent gutters and downpipes
- Irregular gravel coverage
- Missing or damaged weatherproofing
- Loose roof structures
- Loosely attached facade decoration in the form of architectural sculpture
- Advertising fixtures inadequately attached to the structure (e.g. flagpoles, information signs and advertising boards).

Branches falling down during or after a storm pose a threat to any artifacts sited outdoors, as well as to other objects and people. Regularly inspecting trees and taking any appropriate measures (e.g. removing diseased branches) can minimize this threat.

Based on your risk assessment and planned responses, an appropriate selection of tools and materials for dealing with emergencies should be available. Examples of emergency materials:
For water ingress: Plastic/metal sheeting, equipment to deal with leaks such as wet&dry vacuum cleaners, pumps, hoses, absorbent cloths for example
Building materials: Boards, wooden boards, replacement roof shingles
Tools and materials: Battery-operated power tools, lights, extension cables, ropes.

Extreme precipitation in the form of heavy or continuous rain, and also rapid thaws, can cause local flooding of watercourses and may also result in consequential damage such as wastewater backing up as a result of rising groundwater levels and overloaded drains. These not only cause damage to the building and technical structures, they also represent a danger to people and cultural artifacts. To assess the threat, it is advisable to take the findings of the risk assessment (see Explanation for question 2) into account.

Heavy snowfall and drifting snow can add considerable structural loading to roofs. Depending on the particular type of snow concerned, it may be necessary to clear the roof once the snow reaches a certain height in order to prevent damage to the roof covering, or even stop the whole roof structure collapsing altogether. To determine these values, it is essential to know the existing load-bearing capacity of the roof. A specialist engineer or, in the case of public buildings, the relevant building and property management department of the local authority should be consulted to determine these figures if necessary.

If the wind is very strong, very small snow crystals can get under the roof covering and penetrate the building. This drifting snow poses a threat to older, unrenovated roofs in particular. If the accumulations of snow are not removed quickly, meltwater can drip down into the rooms below.

If severe weather warnings for heavy snowfall are issued, it should be checked whether existing snow needs to be cleared off roofs or whether there is still enough load-bearing capacity in reserve. If clearing is necessary, observe the following safety principles:
- Check whether it is safe to walk on the roof and whether it is possible to use power equipment (additional load)
- Occupational safety: Create safe access routes to avoid people falling off (at the edge of the roof) or falling through the roof (e.g. through skylights)
- Pay attention to the structural loading of the roof in order to avoid stability problems if only one side is cleared for example
- Make sure any areas on public paths/roads below the clearing points are closed off. If any public paths/roads are involved, it will usually be necessary to coordinate this with the respective authorities (municipal offices, traffic orders etc.)
- Clarify whether snow clearing can take place during normal operation
- If work after dark is required, find out what illumination will be used
- Check whether it would be expedient to appoint a person to supervise operations as stipulated in the employers' liability insurance association guidelines.

Lightning protection systems protect buildings from direct and indirect damage that could be caused by lightning strikes. Internal and external systems are available. An external system mainly comprises the following components:
1. Air terminal (conductive metal element that is taller than the building)
2. Conductor (connecting the air terminal and ground terminal)
3. Ground terminal (safely discharges the lightning current into the ground)
Internal lightning protection includes equalization of potentials (grounding) and surge protection against transient overvoltages for all the electrical systems and equipment in the building.

The inspection rules and deadlines for mandatory systems are specified in building permits and the relevant VDE rules. There is no mandatory inspection requirement for systems installed voluntarily. Regular inspections of the system components are expressly recommended. The VDE V 0185 Part 3 and DIN EN 62305 standards provide a guideline. Inspections can be carried out by lightning protection specialists, accredited experts from technical inspectorates, or a specialist firm.