NEXT Weather Alert Day: Severe storms possible in southeast Michigan Wednesday

(CBS DETROIT) - As severe weather is forecasted, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns residents of scammers that target home and vehicle owners during disasters. 

Here are some steps residents can take to avoid being a victim of disaster-related scams:

• Breathe.
  The attorney general's office advises residents to take some time to absorb what has happened and make sure to take their time when hiring home repair contractors to be sure they are legitimate.
• Talk to your homeowner's insurance agent or company. 
  Individuals should review their homeowner's insurance policy for details on what damages could be covered and the deductible amount. After that, people should call their insurance companies and write down the questions they asked and the answers they received, along with the name of the person that helped them. People should know what is covered to estimate how much they can spend on repairs and then prioritize repairs based on safety and need.
• Do your homework.
  Nessel urges residents to research contractors before hiring them for home repairs. People should ensure the contractor they decide to hire is licensed, insured and well-regarded with friends and neighbors, and a person should be comfortable with the contractor's complaint history if they have one. 
• Get everything in writing and never pay in cash or in total upfront.
  Residents are urged to get all promises, quotes and expectations written in a contract. In addition, officials urge people to pay for home repairs with credit cards, as they give the added protection of the ability to dispute a charge if the repairs are incomplete. Payments should also never be paid in total upfront to ensure all work is completed with the contract terms. 

Read more here. 

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for all of southeast Michigan until 4 p.m. Wednesday. 

The watch covers more than 35 counties and much of Lower Michigan. 

A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather, so be prepared. 

All severe weather threats are on the table today, so make sure you have a way to get alerts. Be sure to download the CBS Detroit News app.   

The Storm Prediction Center has labeled most of lower Michigan under an ENHANCED risk for severe weather. That is a Level 3 out of 5. This means numerous, persistent storms are possible, with a few storms that develop to be locally intense. Wind damage, large hail, flooding and tornadoes will all be possible.

Storms have already caused hail to be from 0.5" to 2.5" in diameter across lower Michigan. As storms continue to flare up today, the main window for severe weather looks to be from 10 AM until 7 PM. All severe weather threats are on the table today, so make sure you have a way to get alerts. Be sure to download the CBS Detroit News app. 

Make sure to go over and practice your weather safety procedures and prepare your safe place in case you need to seek shelter. Also, a good reminder to make sure your electronic devices are charged ahead of the storm in case you lose power. That way you can still get all the information you need by streaming the NEXT Weather team.

The NEXT Weather team will walk you through the severe weather event every step of the way. Remember to stick with us here at CBS Detroit News on-air, online and streaming live.