Hurricane Season: Tips for Preparation and the Aftermath
Hurricanes are dangerous and can cause significant damage from storm surges, wind damage, rip currents, and flooding. They can happen along any U.S. coast or in any territory in the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. The best approach to keeping your house, family, and pets safe during a hurricane is to prepare early. The CDC and Ready.gov have provided some helpful safety tips on preparing for a hurricane and dealing with the aftermath once the storm has passed.
Make a Plan:
Put a plan together by discussing the questions below with your family, friends, or household to start your emergency plan.
How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
What is my shelter plan?
What is my evacuation route?
What is my family/household communication plan?
Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
Get Your Home Ready:
Clear your yard. Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage your home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, and building material inside or under shelter.
Cover up windows and doors. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the outside window frames to protect your windows. This can help keep you safe from pieces of shattered glass.
Be ready to turn off your power. If you see flooding, downed power lines, or you have to leave your home, switch your power off.
Fill clean water containers with drinking water. You’ll want to do this in case you lose your water supply during the storm. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing.
Check your carbon monoxide (CO) detector’s battery to prevent CO poisoning.
Get your family and pets ready.
Go over your emergency plan with your family.
Keep checking for updates about the storm. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check online.
Call the hospital, public health department, or the police about special needs. If you or a loved one is older or disabled and won’t be able to leave quickly, get advice on what to do.
Put pets and farm animals in a safe place. Read more about pet safety during an emergency.
Get your car ready.
Make sure your car is ready before the storm hits.
Fill your car’s gas tank.
Move cars and trucks into your garage or undercover.
Always keep an emergency kit in your car.
Visit Hurricane Preparedness Documents | Ready.gov for information on preparing your car and what to include in your kit.
If you don’t own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate.
Be ready to evacuate or stay at home.
If you need to evacuate:
Grab your emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you (cell phone, chargers, medicines, identification like a passport or license, and cash).
Unplug your appliances. Turn off the gas, electricity, and water if you have time.
Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend even if there’s traffic. Other routes might be blocked or flooded. Never drive through flooded areas—cars and other vehicles can be swept away or may stall in just 6 inches of moving water.
Contact your local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and pets. Learn more about evacuating with your pet.
If you need to stay home:
Keep your emergency supply kit in a place you can easily access.
Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane.
Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Instead, wait until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Sometimes, the weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but quickly gets bad again.
Stay away from windows—you could get hurt by pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Instead, stay in a room with no windows, or go inside a closet.
Be ready to leave. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house.
Staying Safe After a Hurricane- The Aftermath
In addition to preparing for a hurricane, it’s important to take steps to stay safe after a hurricane is over, for example:
Avoid flooded areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood. Never drive through floodwater.
Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Ensure your CO detector has working batteries. Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
Never use a wet electrical device. Turn off the power at the main breaker in your house if the device is still plugged in. Wait for an electrician to check the device before using it. Learn more about electrical safety after a disaster or emergency.
Be careful near damaged buildings. Do not enter a damaged building until local authorities determine it is safe. Hurricanes can damage buildings and make them unsafe. Leave your home or building if you hear shifting or unusual noises. Strange noises could mean the building about to fall.
Stay away from power lines. Watch out for fallen power lines that may be hanging overhead. Stay clear of fallen power lines and call the utility company to report them. Learn more on how to protect yourself from electrical hazards after a disaster.
Clean up your home safely. Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones during cleanup after a hurricane. Follow safety precautions before reentering your flooded home.
Visit Stay Safe After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm on the CDC’s website for more tips on staying safe after a hurricane.
