#1  Start off at the shallow end of the pool.  Don't overwhelm yourself!  Learn by the "baby steps" approach and then take the time to master each section.  There is a lot of art and science, equipment, skills to learn and safety rules to learn.

#2  When pursuing the capture of "lightning" in severe weather, be sure to follow all "lightning safety" rules by referencing and reading these rules before you chase and capture.  You MUST respect the forces of mother nature!

#3  Be also aware and follow safety rules when encountering hail, wind and heavy rains that accompany severe weather!  If out chasing and capturing, your car will provide you with some safety but there are limitations!

#4  Find the darkest sky site away from light pollution when pursuing and capturing your astrophotography.  Dark skies are usually found close to the ocean/coastal areas or far inland away from major population areas!  The darker the skies, the longer you can expose your images and the more detail you can capture!

#5  Be sure to pack a "kit" and have with you the following items:  NOAA weather radio, batteries, emergency glow sticks, extra memory card, lenspen, optical cleaning cloth, Zeiss wipes, rocket blower, "lightning trigger" if you are capturing lightning, sturdy tripod, remote shutter release, cell phone, cell phone or computer for radar images, proper clothing, snacks, water, ID card, etc.

#6  Be prepared each year by June 1st (Hurricane Season) to have a "family emergency disaster kit", an escape route to your nearest shelter, home owners insurance and flood insurance policies, non-perishable food, plywood, generator, transfer switch, chain saw.

#7  Be sure that all your photographic lenses are covered with UV/Haze "protection" filters, each have lens hoods and a lens cap.  Be sure to clean all your front and rear optics of your camera lenses before each photoshoot.

#8  For those of you beginning "astrophotography", start out with basic "camera-on-tripod" night-sky photography and use the Moon as your first astro imaging target.

#9  DO NOT drive across flooded roads!!!  TURN AROUND - DON'T DROWN

#10  Starting each June 1st thru November 30th, be sure to track tropical systems and pay close attention to any "watches" or "warnings" by the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center.  There are lots of digital apps and software available for free and many weather sites such as "accuweather" and "The Weather Channel" have tracking software.